Cal Poly Athletics to Transition STUNT to Varsity Sport
8/1/2025 3:00:00 PM | General
Photo from Cal Poly STUNT event hosted in Mott Athletics Center this past April
Campus Community:
I am writing today with exciting news that the university is elevating STUNT from a club sport at Cal Poly to varsity status beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year. We are also pursuing the addition of women's flag football as early as 2027. Both of these additions are part of the university's long-term planning to increase opportunities for female student-athletes. This is particularly important as Cal Poly's female student population has increased over the last 12 years from 42 percent of enrollment to 51 percent.
One of our guiding principles for Cal Poly Athletics is participating in sports where we can be competitive. Two years ago, Cal Poly STUNT won a club national championship and has seen tremendous success since its inception. We're confident this team will compete for titles from day one, while creating up to 65 new varsity opportunities for women.
Stunt has been managed by the athletic department since 2010, so this addition will not add significant management nor personnel needs. With its official NCAA Division I Championship sport designation beginning in 2026-27 and its rapid growth across the country, STUNT provides an ideal fit for Cal Poly's priorities and goals:
• Up to 65 roster spots available for female student-athletes
• Participation from over 5,000 high school student-athletes at 253 California schools
• CIF-sanctioned competitions state-wide
• Over 80 varsity STUNT programs across the country in 2025
• Cost-effective sport model with limited equipment and travel expenses
This past April, Cal Poly Athletics hosted a regional STUNT competition, drawing strong fan engagement, community support and some of the nation's best teams, further reinforcing the sport's growing momentum in San Luis Obispo and beyond.
In addition to the launch of varsity STUNT, we are excited about the potential of adding women's flag football as early as 2027. The NCAA recommended flag football as an emerging sport in January, and 45 collegiate programs have already announced their intent to participate. NCAA President Charlie Baker has publicly stated that he anticipates the sport will achieve full championship status by 2028 — the same year it is set to debut in the Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games.
Similar to our early investment in beach volleyball, which continues to pay dividends, being quick to build a women's flag football program as the sport is rapidly emerging will allow Cal Poly to establish its program and embark on a legacy of success.
We continue to be in communication and collaboration with the NFL, NCAA, and peer institutions to shape the future of flag football at the collegiate level. A campus club team at Cal Poly was recently launched and will receive ongoing university support as part of the build-out process.
Finally, I want to acknowledge that the additions of STUNT and flag football come at a time when Cal Poly was recently forced to eliminate its swim and dive programs. Unfortunately the university was unable to support the programs financially -- especially at a level required to be competitive. Additionally, they did not shift the ratio of opportunities for Cal Poly's female student-athletes. While discontinuing a sport is difficult, it was a necessary decision.
Finally, as we look to the future, I along with President Armstrong and university leadership are very excited about the addition of STUNT and potentially flag football to our athletics roster. Both sports provide outstanding opportunities for our athletes to be competitive for national championships from day one.
Ride High!
Don Oberhelman
I am writing today with exciting news that the university is elevating STUNT from a club sport at Cal Poly to varsity status beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year. We are also pursuing the addition of women's flag football as early as 2027. Both of these additions are part of the university's long-term planning to increase opportunities for female student-athletes. This is particularly important as Cal Poly's female student population has increased over the last 12 years from 42 percent of enrollment to 51 percent.
One of our guiding principles for Cal Poly Athletics is participating in sports where we can be competitive. Two years ago, Cal Poly STUNT won a club national championship and has seen tremendous success since its inception. We're confident this team will compete for titles from day one, while creating up to 65 new varsity opportunities for women.
Stunt has been managed by the athletic department since 2010, so this addition will not add significant management nor personnel needs. With its official NCAA Division I Championship sport designation beginning in 2026-27 and its rapid growth across the country, STUNT provides an ideal fit for Cal Poly's priorities and goals:
• Up to 65 roster spots available for female student-athletes
• Participation from over 5,000 high school student-athletes at 253 California schools
• CIF-sanctioned competitions state-wide
• Over 80 varsity STUNT programs across the country in 2025
• Cost-effective sport model with limited equipment and travel expenses
This past April, Cal Poly Athletics hosted a regional STUNT competition, drawing strong fan engagement, community support and some of the nation's best teams, further reinforcing the sport's growing momentum in San Luis Obispo and beyond.
In addition to the launch of varsity STUNT, we are excited about the potential of adding women's flag football as early as 2027. The NCAA recommended flag football as an emerging sport in January, and 45 collegiate programs have already announced their intent to participate. NCAA President Charlie Baker has publicly stated that he anticipates the sport will achieve full championship status by 2028 — the same year it is set to debut in the Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games.
Similar to our early investment in beach volleyball, which continues to pay dividends, being quick to build a women's flag football program as the sport is rapidly emerging will allow Cal Poly to establish its program and embark on a legacy of success.
We continue to be in communication and collaboration with the NFL, NCAA, and peer institutions to shape the future of flag football at the collegiate level. A campus club team at Cal Poly was recently launched and will receive ongoing university support as part of the build-out process.
Finally, I want to acknowledge that the additions of STUNT and flag football come at a time when Cal Poly was recently forced to eliminate its swim and dive programs. Unfortunately the university was unable to support the programs financially -- especially at a level required to be competitive. Additionally, they did not shift the ratio of opportunities for Cal Poly's female student-athletes. While discontinuing a sport is difficult, it was a necessary decision.
Finally, as we look to the future, I along with President Armstrong and university leadership are very excited about the addition of STUNT and potentially flag football to our athletics roster. Both sports provide outstanding opportunities for our athletes to be competitive for national championships from day one.
Ride High!
Don Oberhelman
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