John Carroll University athletics department has made history with the addition of its first female football coach in the history of the 105-year-old program.
According to The News-Herald, Felicia Teeter has been hired to serve as the running backs coach at JCU.
“I’m so excited to be here,” said Teeter. “The legacy and tradition of this program, the players and coaches in this program are great. On every level, I’m so excited for this opportunity.”
Prior to joining the Lobos, Teeter was the head women’s flag football coach at Pratt Community College and Bethel College in Kansas. She also served as the running backs coach to the Bethel College football team.
And her history with the game extends beyond the college level. Teeter started coaching football at the youth and high school level in Texas, serving as an assistant for the Lubbock Independent School District and the varsity tight end/fullback coach at Estacado High School in Lubbock.
“She was phenomenal,” said JCU head football coach Brian Polian. “She’s more than qualified. We hired a good coach. We weren’t trying to make a statement by hiring a female coach. We hired a really good football coach.”
“There is no woman coaching football who doesn’t have a unique path,” said Teeter. “None of us had the stereotypical path of playing and then becoming a [graduate assistant]. My journey is also different. Sometimes you don’t know what you’re going to do in life until you get to your 50s. I was 52 when I got my first football job.”
The Division III football program based in University Heights, Ohio competes in the North Coast Athletic Conference. The 2025 season saw the Lobos win 12 total games. When Teeter stepped onto the field last week, she was able to observe the final spring practice for the team that is undefeated at home.
"There are a million things I love about football,” said Teeter, “but one of them is the impact you can have on the campus with the team. A football team can drive the energy and direction of a campus.”
