12 Feb 2025 Hendrix College starts women’s flag football program

CONWAY —Doug Petersen has been tabbed to be the inaugural head coach of the Hendrix College women’s flag football program.

“I am thrilled that Coach Petersen will be leading our women’s flag football program,” said Director of Athletics Amy Weaver. “He is already a valued member of the Hendrix Warriors family as a member of the football coaching staff, and I am confident in his ability to develop a culture of excellence within the program while also giving our young women a unique opportunity to break new barriers in a sport that was previously inaccessible to them at the varsity level.”

Petersen came to Hendrix in 2024 to join the football coaching staff as the running backs coach and will now be tasked with leading the women’s flag football program, which will begin as a club sport in the spring of 2026 before transitioning to the varsity level in 2027.

“It is an incredible honor to be the first head coach of the women’s flag football program here at Hendrix,” said Petersen. “This is more than just a new chapter for our athletics department — it is an opportunity for us to create an environment where women can excel, lead, and redefine what is possible in athletics. I am excited to help our women’s flag football players grow not just as student-athletes but as leaders.”

Petersen’s 16-year coaching career began in 2009 when he served as the head middle school coach at St. James Catholic Schools in Gulfport, Miss. In 2014, Petersen assumed the role as pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach at St. Patrick Catholic High School in Biloxi.

In 2023, Petersen moved to Arkansas to coach the wide receivers at Jacksonville High School while also serving as head coach of the freshmen program.

Petersen obtained both a bachelor’s in Psychology as well as a Master’s of Science in Industrial Organizational Psychology from William Carey University. Apart from coaching, Petersen enjoyed a 33-year career in law enforcement.