Vanita Krouch

Last updated

Vanita Krouch (born September 1980) [1] is an American flag footballer. She plays quarterback for the United States women's national flag football team.

Contents

Early life

She was born in a refugee camp in the Philippines after her mother, Phonnary Krouch, and three older brothers had fled the regime of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. When she was two months old the family moved to the United States. [1]

She grew up in Texas and played basketball for four seasons at Southern Methodist University for the SMU Mustangs, graduating in 2003. She didn’t start playing flag football until after her collegiate career had ended. [2] [3] [4]

Career

After graduating SMU in 2003, Krouch continued to play basketball in semi-pro and adult leagues. She started playing flag football in 2006 after looking for local Dallas-area activities. [1]

She became the quarterback for the United States women's national flag football team, making her debut in 2016. [5] [6] With the US national team she won gold at the 2018 and 2021 IFAF Flag Football World Championship as well as the 2023 IFAF Americas Championships. She also led the team to the silver medal at the 2022 World Games. [7] [8] In Finland in 2024, she led the American team to a third consecutive title at the 2024 IFAF Women's Flag Football World Championship. [9]

She was the offensive coordinator for the NFC at the NFL Pro Bowl flag football game in 2023, alongside Eli Manning as NFC head coach and DeMarcus Ware as NFC defensive coordinator. [3] [1]

Personal life

As of 2024, she lives in Carrollton, Texas and teaches PE at La Villita Elementary School. [2] She has helped raise funds for the Texas flag football team Austin Fury, founded by the parents of her US national teammate Ashlea Klam. [10] She wears the number 4 jersey and has her own clothing line, 4Ward Apparel. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dallas Cowboys</span> National Football League franchise in Arlington, Texas

The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) East division. The team is headquartered in Frisco, Texas, and has played its home games at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, since its opening in 2009. The stadium took its current name prior to the 2013 season, following the team's decision to sell the stadium's naming rights to telecommunications company AT&T. In January 2025, head coach Mike McCarthy and the Cowboys mutually agreed to part ways as they could not come to terms on the length of a new contract. He was the ninth in the team's history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Bay Packers</span> National Football League franchise in Wisconsin

The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. They are the third-oldest franchise in the NFL, established in 1919, and are the only non-profit, community-owned major league professional sports team based in the United States. Since 1957, home games have been played at Lambeau Field. They hold the record for the most wins in NFL history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Francisco 49ers</span> National Football League franchise in Santa Clara, California

The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) West division. The team plays its home games at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, located 38 miles (61 km) southeast of San Francisco. The team is named after the prospectors of the California gold rush.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</span> National Football League franchise in Tampa, Florida

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) South division. They joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team, along with the Seattle Seahawks, and played its first season in the American Football Conference (AFC) West division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag football</span> Variant of American football

Flag football is a variant of gridiron football where, instead of tackling players to the ground, the defensive team must remove a flag or flag belt from the ball carrier ("deflagging") to end a down. In flag football, contact is limited between players. The sport has a strong amateur following with several national and international competitions each year sponsored by various associations but is most popularly played in America where it was invented. The international governing body for the sport is the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) with the International Woman's Flag Football Association (IWFFA) governing the women's game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Gray</span> American football player and coach (born 1962)

Jerry Don Gray is an American football coach and former player who is the assistant head coach/defense for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). Gray played college football at the University of Texas at Austin, where he garnered All-American honors. Thereafter, he played professionally for the Los Angeles Rams, Houston Oilers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobby Layne</span> American football player (1926–1986)

Robert Lawrence Layne was an American professional football player who was a quarterback for 15 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Longhorns before being selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the third overall pick of the 1948 NFL draft and traded to the Chicago Bears. Layne played one season with the Bears, and then with the New York Bulldogs in 1949, the Detroit Lions from 1950 to 1958, and the Steelers from 1958 to 1962.

Mike Shula is an American football coach who is the offensive coordinator for the South Carolina Gamecocks. He played college football as a quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide and was the school's head coach from 2003 to 2006. He was the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996 to 1999, the Carolina Panthers from 2013 to 2017, and the New York Giants from 2018 to 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Shanahan</span> American football coach (born 1979)

Kyle Michael Shanahan is an American professional football coach who is the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He came to prominence as the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons, whose offense in 2016 led the league in points scored and helped the team reach Super Bowl LI. Shanahan became the head coach of the 49ers the following season, leading the team to three division titles, four postseason appearances, four NFC Championship Game appearances, and two Super Bowl appearances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SMU Mustangs</span> Collegiate sports club in the United States

The SMU Mustangs are the athletic teams that represent Southern Methodist University in University Park, Texas, United States. SMU was founded in 1911 and joined the Southwest Conference, competing against Baylor, Rice, Texas, Texas A&M, Arkansas and Oklahoma A&M. They have been a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) since 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean McVay</span> American football coach (born 1986)

Sean McVay is an American professional football coach who is the head coach of the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He became the youngest NFL head coach in the modern era when he was hired by the Rams in 2017 at the age of 30. McVay is also the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl and be named NFL Coach of the Year. Prior to becoming Rams head coach, he served as a tight ends coach and offensive coordinator for the Washington Redskins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earl Thomas</span> American football player (born 1989)

Earl Winty Thomas III is an American former professional football safety who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Longhorns and received consensus All-American honors and played in the 2010 BCS National Championship Game. He left after his redshirt sophomore year and he was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft. During his time with the Seahawks, he made 6 Pro Bowls and 5 All-Pro teams as he was a core member of the Legion of Boom defense, winning Super Bowl XLVIII against the Denver Broncos and started in Super Bowl XLIX. After nine seasons with Seattle, he signed with the Baltimore Ravens as a free agent and played one season while earning his 7th Pro Bowl invite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cameron Jordan</span> American football player (born 1989)

Cameron Tyler Jordan is an American professional football defensive end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears, and was selected by the Saints in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft. A member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, Jordan is an eight-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro selection, and is the Saints' all-time franchise sack leader.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Quinn (American football)</span> American football coach (born 1970)

Daniel Patrick Quinn is an American football coach who is the head coach for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He came to prominence as the defensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks from 2013 to 2014, helping craft a Cover 3 defense that featured the Legion of Boom secondary. Under Quinn, Seattle made two consecutive Super Bowl appearances, winning the franchise's first in Super Bowl XLVIII.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt LaFleur</span> American football player and coach (born 1979)

Matthew Patrick LaFleur is an American professional football coach who is the head coach of the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He has served as the quarterback coach of the Washington Redskins, Notre Dame, and the Atlanta Falcons and the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams and the Tennessee Titans.

Diana Flores Arenas is a Mexican flag football player. She is a quarterback and captain of the Mexican national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States women's national flag football team</span>

The United States women's national flag football team represents the United States in women's international flag football matches. The sport is governed by USA Football. In 2023, the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) ranked the United States women's team 1st worldwide.

The Mexico women's national flag football team represents Mexico in women's international flag football matches. The sport is governed by the Mexican American Football Federation. In 2023, the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) ranked the Mexico women's team 2nd worldwide.

Ashlea Klam is an American flag footballer. She won the 2024 IFAF Women's Flag Football World Championship with the United States women's national flag football team.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Antonucci, Lisa (February 1, 2023). "Flag football star Vanita Krouch 'living the dream' ahead of NFL Pro Bowl debut as NFC coordinator". nbcsports. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD teacher to start at QB for U.S. in flag football world championships". fox4news.com. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  3. 1 2 Hendricks, Maggie (28 November 2023). "Vanita Krouch hopes to blaze a trail to LA 2028". Olympics.com. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  4. ↑ Stroud, Rick (14 February 2024). "Bucs ramp up support for girls flag football, now an Olympic sport". Tampabay.com. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  5. ↑ "Vanita Krouch shares how family's journey led to her flag football prominence". NFL.com. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  6. ↑ Treacey, Dan (February 5, 2023). "Meet Diana Flores and Vanita Krouch, the women coaching 2023 NFL Pro Bowl rosters". Sporting News. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  7. ↑ "The World Games flag football medalists honored at NFL kickoff in Los Angeles". International World Games Association. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  8. ↑ "Gridiron Football Introduces Vanita Krouch as Brand Ambassador". prneswire.com. 30 May 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  9. ↑ "CFBISD educator leads USA Flag Football team to gold medal". Star Loval Media. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  10. ↑ Perlman, Charlie (August 13, 2024). "Girls flag football's Olympic dream: a reality for young athletes". LA Times. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.