For Immediate Release
September 9, 2025
Football Ontario Announces 2026 Team Ontario Women’s Flag Head Coaches
Football Ontario Announces Team Ontario Flag Coaches for the 2026 season
Hamilton, Ontario – Football Ontario is excited to announce the Women’s Head Coaches for the 2026 Team Ontario Flag Programs. In 2026, Football Ontario will have eight total Flag Teams that will represent the province at the Elite Flag National Championships. This event will again be hosted in Ontario with more information on the dates and location to be announced by Football Canada in the coming months.
HAMILTON ID CAMP REGISTRATION – SEPTEMBER 14 @ HAMILTON STADIUM
TORONTO ID CAMP REGISTRATION – OCTOBER 4
OTTAWA ID CAMP REGISTRATION – OCTOBER 25 @ TD PLACE
The age groups that will be present at this event are:
- .U19 (2008)
- U18 (2009/2010)
- U16 (2011/2012)
- U14 (2013/2014)
For the third year in a row, Football Ontario is recruiting flag athletes ranging from the U14-U19 age group for the 2026 flag football pathway. This provides 96 athletes and 16 coaches the opportunity to compete in a National Championship, develop their athletic skill set, and showcase their talents among the top flag football athletes in the country.
Football Ontario is thrilled to announce the organization’s 2026 women’s coaches, which includes several returning Team Ontario flag coaches from 2026 in which the organization medaled in three of the four girls’ divisions.
Below are the Women’s Team Ontario Flag Head Coaches for 2026:
U14 Girls – Cassandra Cantarutti
Coach Cassandra Cantarutti brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of developing athletes across Ontario. She is currently an assistant coach with the Kingston Sharks and previously served as head coach of the Queen’s University Women’s 5v5 Flag Team, where she built a new program into a provincial Top 8 contender. Under her leadership, Queen’s quickly rose from a newly-ranked team to competing with success against Quebec at the Canadian Collegiate Women’s Flag Showcase, highlighting her ability to implement effective systems, film study, and play design to elevate performance.
Cantarutti has also been a key part of the Team Ontario program, serving as an assistant coach with the U16 Women’s Flag Team in 2024 and 2025, helping guide the group to a bronze medal finish at the 2025 Elite Flag Nationals. She is recognized for her strong defensive mindset and has developed playbooks designed to counter complex defensive concepts, giving her athletes the tools they need to compete at the highest level.
Her professional background with the Kingston school board has prepared her to work closely with younger athletes, emphasizing both development and readiness for elite competition. She is passionate about instilling drive, commitment, and love for flag football in women and girls, and has been instrumental in growing the game in Kingston and beyond.
“I’m eager to continue with Team O in this new role and I hope to maintain the high standards and performance that the U14 team achieved last year. I’m looking for the best of the best and am ready to prioritize technique, fundamentals, and systems that will drive success.” says Coach Cassandra Cantarutti.
U16 Girls – Thalia Wright
Thalia Wright has been in flag football since 2006, starting as a quarterback in middle school and competing in TFONT in 2018 – 2020. She now serves as the Program Developer at UA Flag Canada, where she leads grassroots growth, coach development, and athlete pathways across Ontario and beyond.
Thalia is the U16 Women’s Team Ontario Head Coach for 2024 and 2025, guiding the squad to a bronze medal at the 2025 nationals. A mentor and educator recognized as Humber College’s Alumni of the Year, she blends technical coaching with community-building and her Kaizen ethos—continuous improvement, one step at a time.
From player to provincial head coach, Thalia’s mission is simple: grow the game, elevate athletes, and build inclusive spaces where every player can thrive.
U18 Girls – Matty Hill
Coach Matt Hill brings an impressive track record of success, leadership, and elite team building to the flag football community. With back-to-back Club National Championships under his belt, Coach Hill has led a dynamic mix of U18 and U16 boys and girls to the top of the podium, showcasing his ability to develop talent across age groups and genders.
He also served as head coach of the Brock Badgers Women’s Flag Football Program, where he guided the team to a bronze medal finish at the Provincial Championships — a testament to his strategic mindset and ability to elevate collegiate athletes.
Currently, Coach Hill is the Director of Flag Football at Villa Maria College (USA), where he is spearheading the growth of the women’s program at the collegiate level.
As the founder and owner of Niagara Youth Flag and the Niagara Nitro Travel Program, Coach Hill oversees 16 competitive teams, with an impressive haul of 4 gold medals and 1 silver medal at Nationals. His programs are known for their elite development pathways, competitive excellence, and a culture of hard work and sportsmanship.
Now, Coach Hill is setting his sights on building the premier U18 Girls Flag Football team, uniting top athletes from across the province. With his proven leadership and a relentless drive to compete at the highest level, he is so excited to have the best girls to all come together with one goal
U19 Girls – Julie Van
Coach Julie Van is one of the most experienced and decorated coaches in the women’s flag football community, bringing a proven record of success at both the collegiate and provincial levels. She currently serves as the Head Coach for the University of Toronto Women’s Flag Football Team, where she has led the program to three provincial silver medals, one provincial gold medal, three Football Canada National appearances, and three CCWF appearances. Prior to coaching, Van was also the team’s quarterback, giving her unique insight into the player experience and the demands of elite-level competition.
Her impact extends well beyond the university field. Van was a former quarterback and coach with the Team Ontario Senior Women’s program, competing at multiple Senior Flag National events. She has consistently invested in her development as a coach and identification of talent, attending numerous clinics and workshops in the Toronto area to better support athletes and foster growth in the sport. In 2017, she played a key support role in the initiation and consultation of the Ontario Women’s Intercollegiate Footbal Association (OWIFA), helping establish a framework for the continued growth of women’s flag football at the post-secondary level.
Known as a humble and hardworking leader, Van brings a passion for the game and a deep desire to bridge the gap between Team Ontario and the collegiate space. Having competed across Canada and against some of the strongest programs in Quebec, she understands what it takes to build a successful U19 program and is committed to preparing Ontario athletes to compete at the highest levels.
“I’m thrilled to join Team O as a coach and to help our athletes grow both on and off the field. My goal is to develop not just strong players, but confident leaders who push themselves and each other to reach their full potential.” says Coach Julie Van.
Football Ontario looks forward to having these coaches provide their experience and talents to lead the Team Ontario flag athletes to success at the 2026 National Championships.
We are thrilled to welcome this outstanding group of coaches to lead our Women’s Flag Program,” said Olivia Ghosh-Swaby, Manager of Flag Development with Football Ontario. “Their combined expertise, passion, and leadership will provide Ontario athletes with the best opportunities to grow, compete, and succeed on and off the field.”
If you are interested in being a part of the 2026 Team Ontario Flag Program, make sure you register for one of their Flag ID Camps TODAY!
HAMILTON REGISTRATION – SEPTEMBER 14 @ HAMILTON STADIUM
TORONTO REGISTRATION – OCTOBER 4 @ ROB FORD STADIUM
OTTAWA REGISTRATION – OCTOBER 25 @ TD PLACE
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Website: www.footballontario.net
Instagram: @footballontario_
ABOUT FOOTBALL ONTARIO: Football Ontario is the sanctioned provincial governing body for football in Ontario, through its focus on transparency, growth, alignment and excellence, is engaged in providing football opportunities for all of Ontario. Football Ontario is driven by a commitment to deliver football programming, opportunities and resources for its members and the provincial football stakeholders. Please visit: footballontario.net
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