DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine Athletics department officially named Ester Alencar as its first Women's Flag Football Head Coach, Director of Athletics Mark Peeler announced on Monday afternoon.

"The addition of flag football comes at an exciting time nationally for the sport and we look forward to the 2026 start date at Erskine," Peeler said. "We feel like we have already scored our first touchdown with the hiring of Ester. She has blown away everyone on campus that has spoken with her. The passion she has for the game, the experience she has as a player and a coach provide us with an awesome program-builder of Fleet Flag Football. We are also excited that she will be a new addition to the Erskine football program as well. Ester is joining an outstanding staff in Fleet Athletics, and we look forward to her being a huge asset to 'The Fleet Way.'"

Alencar, a native of Brazil, has been involved in coaching football for the past ten years, most recently as a Defensive Assistant Coach for Gettysburg College. Prior to Gettysburg, Alencar was the Quarterback Coach and Women's Flag Football Head Coach for the Rio Preto Weilers, an American Football team in São Paulo, Brazil.

"I am truly honored and excited to take on the Head Flag Football Coach role at Erskine College as we build this program from the ground up," Alencar said. "My purpose has always been to serve and teach, and it will be an incredible privilege to do so with a group of young women who will now have the opportunity to play football—a sport that, for so long, was not an option for many of us. Being part of this change and contributing to the growth of the game is something I deeply value. I look forward to shaping a team, building a strong foundation, and inspiring the next generation of athletes with a culture of teamwork, dedication, and excellence."

A graduate of Universidade Federal do Paraná in Curitiba, Brazil, Alencar also has over five years of playing experience with the Brazilian National Tackle Football Team and the Brazilian National Flag Football Team, where she competed in two World Championships.

Alencar was involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) organization for seven years and co-founded the FCA Women's Ministry in Brazil in 2020. Additionally, Alencar was one of the 25 coaches selected for the first class of the National Coaching Academy with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2024, an academy dedicated to finding the best future NFL Coaches, according to the Buccaneers.

Alencar will join the Fleet and recruit a group of student-athletes to start the program for the Spring 2026 season, in which Erskine will compete in Conference Carolinas with seven other member institutions.

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