MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Christian Brothers University (CBU) Athletics is making history with the addition of women's flag football, marking a new era for the university and an exciting opportunity for women's collegiate athletics in the Memphis area.
Jason Sonnenfelt was named the first head flag football coach in Christian Brothers University history in the fall of 2026 and will build the program from the ground up ahead of its first season in 2028.
A Familiar Face in the Memphis Football Community
Sonnenfelt is no stranger to CBU. From 2018 to 2025, he was offensive coordinator at Middle College High School, which sits across the street from CBU and whose students take college courses on campus.
Over six competitive seasons, Middle College went 45-23, reached the playoffs five times, and advanced to the second round three times. The program consistently sent its players on to higher education and produced first-team all-region selections every season, including four who later competed at the NCAA Division I level. Its 2019 offense ranked second in scoring in the Shelby County Metro.
Most recently, Sonnenfelt served as offensive coordinator and in football operations at Cordova High School, where he helped rebuild the program, connect players with college recruiting opportunities, and secure outside funding.
Building a Program from the Ground Up
Sonnenfelt brings a program builder's skills to a sport still taking shape. A certified Project Management Professional and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, he has spent his career in instructional design and higher education, including roles at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, CBU, and the University of Memphis.
He draws on that background to build training systems that help athletes learn quickly and grow as leaders.
"CBU Flag Football has a chance to make history in this region," Sonnenfelt said. "This is an opportunity to show that Christian Brothers is a leader in the evolution of the sport, and to build a program the university and the city of Memphis can be proud of."
From Nebraska to Memphis: A Lifetime Around Football
A native of Oakland, Nebraska, Sonnenfelt grew up with the Cornhusker State's love of football.
He spent two years at Li Po Chun United World College in Hong Kong, earning the International Baccalaureate Diploma. With no football to be found, he picked up rugby with local teams, a game whose open-field spacing and pursuit angles carry over naturally to flag.
At Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, he started at center and played every position on the offensive line in the fall, played club rugby in the spring, and later coached the tackles and tight ends.
He holds a bachelor's degree in history from Macalester and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Nebraska Omaha.
Family and Life in Memphis
Sonnenfelt and his wife, Jenna, live in Memphis with their dogs, K.C., Dixie, and Boudreaux.
A Historic New Chapter for CBU Athletics
With its inaugural season set for 2028, CBU women's flag football represents a historic addition to the Buccaneers' athletic programs and a new opportunity for student-athletes in the Memphis area.
Under Sonnenfelt's leadership, the Buccaneers will begin building the foundation for a program looking to make its mark on the growing sport of women's flag football.
A new sport. A new era. A historic first for the Buccaneers.
