Staff
Baltimore Nighthawks Staff
Tanya A. Bryan
CEO & Founder
To Our Fans,
You are the real MVP’s of the 2025 season. Through every triumph through the highs and lows our fans have continued to support us. You have been there in rain, sleet, and snow to cheer us on. No matter what the score, weather, or other conditions you have shown your love for this team. You showed up in the heat and humidity of the summer. You traveled to Columbus, Virginia and back to Ohio. You wore your black & purple proudly and you cheered louder than anyone else. We gave you all the drama you could want from football games including a 1-point win to seal our first ever Conference Championship. We felt your joy. We saw it on your faces. We saw it in every TikTok, Facebook and Instagram post you made. You were excited for your women’s tackle team, and you were ready to go to a Championship game with us.
Our 18th season ended with our 3rd 1st round playoff win in Baltimore Nighthawks history, our 4th Conference Championship appearance, and our 1st Conference Championship win. The DII Championship ended with a heartbreaking loss. Losing is never easy. When you are 60 minutes away from reaching a goal, and watch it slip away, it fuels you in a way that only true competitors will understand. It becomes your single focus and everything you do is to go beyond that point and have success.
Season 19 is here, and I am looking forward to an incredible season with the Baltimore Nighthawks. We have new business to take care of. I am sure people expected me to say unfinished business, but Season 19 is about looking forward not backward. Once you get to a Championship your motivation is different. You know the outcome you want. Your effort has to be in the process to ensure that outcome. It is the exhilaration you had looking up into the stands at your fans, family and friends so excited for you at the start of the game. It is the comfort you have seeing those same faces looking back at you with pride and happiness because you gave them an unforgettable season of football. It is the moments spent thanking everyone for their support after the final buzzer. It is realizing the joy and love and support the Nighthawks Nation still have even though we didn’t get the win. An 8-1 season. To our fans who have experienced the full range of emotions with us, we are ready to celebrate with you in 2026 after we earn our 1st Championship! Time to go to work! Nighthawks Nation – Get ready for 2026.
Tanya A. Bryan
CEO & Founder
Game Day Operations:
Carol Bowman
Ronnie Bowman
BJ Jordan
Lydia West
Announcer Michael Bell
Video Bell Family
Medical Services:
Middle River Fire Department
ATC – Jaime Harris
ATC – Heather Kohlbus
Photograper
Hugh Scott aka HasMat3 Photography
Aleetra Mckay-Filson at Lilimckay Photography
Mission Statement
The Baltimore Nighthawks are proud members of the WFA {Women’s Football Alliance}. The goal of our league is to provide a safe and productive environment that enables women to learn and apply the principles of teamwork, discipline, dedication, and sportsmanship. We facilitate the development of strength and character in everyone that participates.
We are sustained by the efforts of volunteers who display an extraordinary amount of commitment and hard work, ensuring that our league is a positive influence. We also strive to provide a service to our community by providing a healthy outlet for women, opportunities for the community to gather together, and endless hours of entertainment.
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Baltimore Nighthawks Coaching Staff
COACH MIKE LYNN
Head Coach
COACH RAY IDLEMAN
Offensive Coordinator
COACH LEAF
Defensive Coordinator
Defensive Line
COACH DONALD DAVIS
Defensive Back Coach
COACH MARCUS BELL
Wide Receiver Coach
COACH JALEN HECKSTALL
Running Back Coach
COACH BRYAN
Special Teams
COACH GLORIA CURRY
Asst. Coach
COACH TANYA FINIGAN
Asst. Coach
Baltimore Nighthawks History
The team was formed in 2007, for the purpose of teaching women how to play tackle football. Our aim is to deliver the message that women do belong on the football field. Football is the ultimate team sport. Our plans, hopes and ambitions are to bring women’s football to a broader market and represent Maryland proudly. Being positive examples extends off the football field into the community we live and play in. We contribute our time to various charities including Healthcare for the Homeless and Mascots for a Cure. It is important to work with our youth and get them moving and excited about fitness and sports. Many players and coaches work with various youth programs or go to elementary schools as speakers to promote the importance of sport and education. We work with Girl Scouts of Central MD, and participate in their annual cookie kick off by providing football focused activities for the Girl Scouts, Brownies and Daisies to participate in. We were members of the Independent Women’s Football League (IWFL) for nine years. In 2010 members of the IWFL represented the United States as Team USA in the inaugural IFAF Women’s World Championship. Team USA won the gold medal. The Baltimore Nighthawks were represented by Team Owner Tanya Bryan as Team Manager for the Defense as well as one linemen. In 2012 we were the Mid-Atlantic Division Champions. In 2014 we were honored to represent the Eastern Conference in the Founders Bowl. At the start of our 10th season, we joined the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA). We have made post season appearances for the last four seasons for our longest post season run. In eighteen seasons countless players and coaches have represented the Eastern Conference proudly in All-American games. In 2025, 10 Baltimore Nighthawk players were selected as All-Americans. The 2025 season was historic. We were undefeated in the regular season. After years of first round playoff wins, we won our first Conference Championship, and went to Canton, Ohio to play in our first Championship game. Our Championship run ended with a loss at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. It was an incredible year with some amazing accomplishments. As we start plans for our 19th season, we are proud of our history and looking forward to the future.