As Flag Football Booms, Title-Winning High School Coach Makes Surprising Exit
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Mickey McDermott, head coach of New Jersey flag football powerhouse Ridgewood High School, has officially announced that he is stepping down from his role leading the Maroons.
McDermott helped launch Ridgewood’s flag football program back in 2021 and quickly turned it into the state’s premier dynasty. Under his leadership, the Maroons captured three North/Central state titles over the past four seasons, alongside a narrow 20-19 finish in this past spring’s North/Central final.
A Changing Flag Football Landscape
McDermott cited the rapid global growth of flag football, expanding professional coaching opportunities, and a desire to spend more time with his family as his primary reasons for stepping away from the high school level.
He will continue his role as head coach of the New York Jets Flag Elite, an NFL-backed travel team he joined in 2025. McDermott recently guided the Jets 14U and high school club teams to national titles at the ‘We Run the World’ Tournament in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.
The Exponential Growth of Flag Football
McDermott’s departure underscores a rapidly changing ecosystem for the sport:
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High School Sanctioning: Flag football was officially sanctioned as a varsity high school sport in New Jersey this past May, with its first official sanctioned season kicking off this coming spring.
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Collegiate Expansion: The NCAA is actively working toward officially adding flag football to its roster of collegiate sports.
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Olympic Horizon: The sport continues to gain massive international momentum ahead of its official Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
While Ridgewood searches for its next head coach, McDermott’s impact on building New Jersey’s first true flag football powerhouse remains an enduring chapter in local sports history.
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Tags: Ridgewood High School, Flag Football, High School Sports, New Jersey Sports, NY Jets, Local Sports
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