���ӰԺ

D’Youville University’s sprint football program continues to gain momentum following Head Coach Graham Johnsen’s appearance on WIVB Channel 4, where he spoke about the university’s newest varsity sport, the opportunities it creates for student-athletes, and the team’s active recruiting efforts.

Sprint football, which will debut as D’Youville’s 22nd varsity sport in fall 2026, is a fast, competitive version of football played at 178 pounds or less. The sport emphasizes speed, agility, and technique rather than size and strength, and it has a long history at institutions such as Army and Navy. It is governed nationally by the Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL) and the Midwest Sprint Football League (MSFL).

During the interview, Johnsen emphasized that sprint football fits naturally with D’Youville’s focus on opportunity and inclusion. “D’Youville does a really nice job providing opportunities and inclusion, and this opens up opportunities for people who maybe wouldn’t play college football because of their size,” Johnsen said. 

Johnsen also discussed his coaching background, noting that sprint football has been a meaningful part of his career. “I started in sprint football back in 2010 as an assistant coach,” he said. “I worked for that program (Mansfield University) for six years, and the last four years of that were trying to rebuild and reshape the program. I was the head coach from 2012 to 2016.”

His experience rebuilding a program from the ground up directly supports D’Youville’s long-term vision for its newest team.

Recruiting is already underway as D’Youville builds its first sprint football roster. Johnsen emphasized that recruiting is a year-round effort and a critical part of establishing a strong foundation for the program. He noted that D’Youville will be at the Tuesday December 2nd at Highmark Stadium, joining more than two dozen colleges to meet prospective student-athletes who fit the sprint football profile. The event begins at 6:00 PM, and the coaching staff is eager to connect with players who are fast, competitive, and weigh 178 pounds or less.

Johnsen shared that D’Youville expects to bring in its first mid-year transfers in this January. Those early arrivals will allow the coaching staff to begin spring workouts and instructional sessions, laying the groundwork for the team’s first official season. The Saints’ inaugural sprint football game is scheduled for September 19, 2026, marking a major milestone for both the program and the university.

Johnsen is also close to finalizing his coaching staff. His focus is on assembling coaches he has worked with before people he trusts, respects, and believes will help define the culture of the new program. He emphasized the importance of surrounding student-athletes with role models who are steady, reliable, and aligned with the values he wants the team to embody.

Prospective players interested in joining D’Youville’s sprint football team can visit the university’s website and navigate to the sprint football page, where they’ll find a . Once submitted, the coaching staff will follow up to discuss next steps, evaluation, and the overall recruiting process.