Buffalo Bills announce Week 2 girls flag football Coach of the Week

Apr 21, 2026 at 02:59 PM

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The Buffalo Bills have announced the Week 2 High School Girls Flag Football Coaches of the Week.

Aimed at highlighting varsity girls' flag football coaches' efforts on and off the field, coaches from the Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse regions will be honored over seven weeks and will receive $1,000 for their teams. Each region's Coach of the Week will be eligible to be selected for the Coach of the Year where they will receive an additional $1,000 towards their flag football program.

Buffalo Region (Section VI) Coach of the Week

Fredonia co-head coach Nick Bertrando was named the Buffalo region Coach of the Week for the week ending Sunday, April 19. Bertrando has been a big part of the growth of flag football at Fredonia since 2023, producing a 40-6 record in the last 4 seasons. He led the team to consecutive Division Championships from 2023-2025. This season, his squad sits at 6-0 with key wins over Jamestown and Spencerport.

Bertrando's focus as a coach is helping young people to recognize their full potential and challenging them to consider where they were, where they are, and where they want to be.

The Fredonia Girls Flag Football team helps sell newspapers each summer for the "Laurel Run," which celebrates people with down syndrome and other developmental disabilities. In the classroom, the squad was recognized as the NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athletes with a team GPA of 90& or greater.

Winning the Section VI Girls Flag Football Division III B Sectional Title in 2024 is one of Coach Bertrando's favorite flag football memories.

Rochester Region (Section V) Coach of the Week

Hornell head coach Mike Wilkinson was named the Rochester region Coach of the Week for the week ending Sunday, April 19. Coach Wilkinson and team are 5-0 in their first year playing flag football. He is credited with building an incredible culture and excitement around the sport in the Hornell community.

"In athletics, you need to work to earn the things that you achieve," explained Wilkinson. "I believe in instilling a passion and love for the sport in my athletes, while at the same time encouraging them to become a better version of themselves."

Wilkinson's favorite memory is the first game of their inaugural season and seeing the girls rewarded for their hard work and dedication throughout the winter. Hornell not only earned the victory but were supported by the community in a way never before seen.

Syracuse Region (Section III) Coach of the Week

Syracuse East head coach Jeff Petties was named the Syracuse region Coach of the Week for the week ending Sunday, April 19. With 20 years of coaching experience in the Syracuse City School District, Petties has built a reputation for dedication, versatility, and leadership. He has coached football, wrestling, track, and softball, shaping countless student-athletes along the way. Now in his third year at the helm for the flag football team, Coach Petties continues to bring energy, knowledge, and a strong commitment to developing both skills and character in his athletes.

In just a short time since the inaugural 2024 season, Petties has made a significant impact on the flag football program, leading his team to an outstanding 29–7 record. His success highlights not only his coaching experience, but also his ability to develop players, foster teamwork, and build a competitive program from the ground up.

"The most rewarding part of flag football isn't just competition, but the relationships built along the way," said Petties. "Providing opportunities to teach, connect, and strengthen team culture; through these experiences, the team grows closer, building a family environment that carries over onto the field."

Growth of girls flag football in WNY

The growth of girls flag football has been remarkable. In 2022, 20 Western New York teams featured flag football. Currently, 255 public schools across New York State are participating in girls flag football, with 91 from WNY (Sections VI, V, and III, which is the Syracuse area).

High school girls flag football launched in the Spring of 2022 and became a New York State-sanctioned sport in 2023. In 2024, the first-ever NYSPHSAA State Championship Season for flag football was held. Since then, three of the five state champions have been from Western New York.

The Bills are currently in their second year of a three-year pilot initiative in support of Modified (Middle School) Girls Flag Football with the Bills Foundation and the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation. Last year, 21 schools received grant funding and equipment as a part of this program; this year, 32 schools received grant and equipment support.

At the 2026 NCAA Convention, flag football was added to the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program. This means it is a step closer to becoming a sanctioned sport – one officially recognized, governed, and regulated by the NCAA, which will provide the opportunity to play in college to thousands of student athletes. This explosion of participation and passion for girls' and women's flag football also coincides with the 2028 Olympics, which will include women's flag for the first time.

In the Community | 2026 Modified Flag Football Kickoff

On April 18th and April 19th, the Buffalo Bills in partnership with the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation and Buffalo Bills Foundation, hosted the annual Modified Girls Flag Football Kickoff inside the Kaleida Health Performance Center. Nearly 40 teams from Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse were invited to participate in the event which consisted of skills & drills and scrimmage sessions. DeWayne Carter, Javon Solomon and Billy Buffalo were in attendance throughout the weekend to support the girls and wish them luck on their upcoming seasons!