SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Lisa Horton knows football — and knows winning.

She was a high-level quarterback for the Pittsburgh Passion women’s team for 15 years, playing in numerous postseason games. She was a coach of the Passion team that reached the national title game earlier this summer.

She was tight ends coach for the Slippery Rock University men’s team that reached the NCAA Division II semifinals in 2024. And she guided the Passion flag football team to a league championship last year.

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This summer, Horton entered uncharted territory, however — creating a program.

She officially began her duties as SRU’s inaugural head flag football coach July 1. She still coaches the Passion. She still coaches for the SRU men’s team.

“I know where my priorities lie,” Horton said. “(SRU) flag football is my team. I have to build it.”

She is uncertain whether she will continue coaching with the Passion in the spring of 2028, when The Rock flag football team plays its first season. She is certain of a lengthy process sitting in front of her.

“I know what it takes to win in this sport,” Horton said. “I played for the U.S. national team in 2016. I’ve played a lot of flag football and know the type of players I want.”

Horton coached the SRU club flag football team last spring.

“That’s a start ... but it’s only a start,” she said.

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She’s building the program one step at a time. A shipment of flags and balls arrived in September. Coaching gear has been ordered, and Horton has mocked up uniforms. She doesn’t plan on hiring an assistant coach until March or April. She is uncertain what her financial budget will be.

Horton recently confirmed home games will be held at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium, same as the men’s football team.

All she knows is she wants to have a 25-player roster in place by the 2027-28 academic year.

“Being on the men’s staff, it’s all about time management for me right now,” Horton said. “I’m at the stadium here at 6 a.m. every day, meetings at 7:30, stay until that work is done.

Her daily schedule during the fall football season involves preparing for afternoon meetings and prepping, grading or watching tight end practice from 8-10 a.m. The Horton fields calls or hosts flag football recruits until 2. There are team and position group meetings for the men’s team after that, then The Rock practice from 3:30-5:30 or 5:30-8.

“It’s busy, but I love a challenge,” Horton said.

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That doesn’t count the men’s games every Saturday, including travel for road contests.

Following one men’s practice in the summer, Horton drove to Pittsburgh for a flag football tournament at F.N.B. Stadium. One weekend, she was in Philadelphia scouting another tournament.

She said building her program is different from SRU’s wrestling situation “because there’s no alumni base or history here. We’re starting fresh.”

And they’re starting with enthusiasm.

Horton said some SRU students have already expressed interest in coming out for the team. She’s planning to host a prospect camp in October and follow that up with a tryout camp for interested SRU students in October or November.

Besides Pennsylvania, Horton is using Ohio, New York and New Jersey as a recruiting base. She has booked more than 20 recruits for visits to SRU.

“Finding a good quarterback is critical. A good pass rusher helps, too,” she said. “We’ll be teaching the game to some. Discipline and academics come first, football comes second. We’re laying that framework right away.”

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There are 62 D-II schools with either a club or varsity flag football program in place now. SRU will join California and Lackawanna as PSAC schools with flag football in 2028.

“There are more to come. That sport is growing so fast,” SRU athletic director Roberta Page said. “Lisa is so organized and detail-oriented. She’s a winner, and she’ll build a winning program.

“We will be joining a flag football conference. That can’t be announced just yet.”

So why is Horton so willing to increase her football responsibilities so much?

“I love the game because of the relationships it builds,” she said. “You build bonds that last a lifetime in this sport. Just to be part of the long-term impact this will have on young people’s lives makes this process so worth it.”