From First Female HS Coach in Colorado to WNFC Sidelines: Oregon Native Beth Buglione Takes Over as Ravens Head Coach

The Oregon Ravens have turned to a true pioneer to lead them into a new era in the Women's National Football Conference. Today, the franchise announced the hiring of Beth Buglione as its new head coach, bringing home a figure who has been blazing trails in football for more than two decades.

A Proven Builder

Buglione’s football journey began in 2000 when she became the quarterback and founding owner of the Corvallis Pride, one of Oregon’s early women’s football programs.

After hanging up her cleats, she seamlessly transitioned to the sideline, taking the reins of the Pride as head coach. Her résumé grew to include stops with the Benton Bulldawgs nine-man team and Oregon high school programs in Philomath and Sheridan, where she earned a reputation for her ability to develop talent and instill discipline.

Buglione also brings academic roots back with her return. A graduate of the University of Oregon with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, she has long understood the intersection of sport, storytelling, and community. That foundation, combined with her on-field résumé, makes her uniquely suited to lead the Ravens in a city that prides itself on its women’s sports culture.

Her impact extended beyond the Pacific Northwest. In 2017, she made history as the first female head football coach in Colorado state history when Nederland Senior High School hired her. Just a year later, she joined powerhouse Cherry Creek High School in Denver as offensive coordinator.

In six years, Buglione helped engineer one of the most dominant runs in Colorado football, guiding the Bruins to five state championships.

Now, after carving her place in football history, she’s returning to Oregon alongside her partner Delaine and their two cats, Moose and Aspen, to take on the challenge of rebuilding the Ravens.

A Team in Need of a Spark

On the field, the Ravens have struggled to translate their fan passion into wins. Oregon has finished at or near the bottom of the Pacific Division in each of the past four seasons.

Despite the results, the Ravens have been a force off the field. They’ve led the league in fan attendance, notching two sellouts last season and topping the WNFC in ticket sales. The support has turned their home games into one of the toughest tickets in the league, giving the program a solid foundation to build upon.

New Faces of Football Leadership

Buglione’s arrival is also part of a larger story playing out across the WNFC. More women than ever are taking the reins as head coaches, a milestone moment in pro football and a signal of the league’s commitment to opportunity and representation on the sidelines as well as on the field. Coaches like Odessa Jenkins (Texas Elite Spartans), Knengi Martin (San Diego Rebellion), Keke Blackmon (Kansas City Glory), and Carrie Walters (Las Vegas Silver Stars) embody this progress, alongside leaders such as Kameron Marks (Atlanta Truth), who continue to expand what football leadership looks like.

Portland: An Epicenter of Women’s Sports

The Ravens’ coaching move also lands in a city quickly becoming a national hub for women’s professional sports. Portland already boasts the NWSL’s Portland Thorns, one of the most successful franchises in women’s soccer history, and the WNBA is set to return to the Rose City in 2026. The city has also made headlines with the Sports Bra, the nation’s first women’s sports bar and recently announced a combined WNBA and Portland Thorns training facility in Hillsboro.

It’s a convergence that has led Portland to bill itself as the “epicenter of women’s sports.” Adding a trailblazer like Buglione to the Ravens’ sideline strengthens that identity, tying women’s tackle football into the broader boom of professional women’s sports in the region.

The Right Hire at the Right Time

Ravens officials believe Buglione’s combination of player experience, high school success, and history-making leadership is exactly what the franchise needs. For a team that has never lacked heart but has yet to find its competitive rhythm, her presence on the sideline brings credibility, experience, and an expectation of excellence.

“She’s been a winner at every stop, from building programs in Oregon to coaching five state titles in Colorado,” said a Ravens insider. “We know our fans deserve a team that matches their passion, and Coach Buglione is here to deliver that.”

Looking Ahead

The Ravens will open training camp this spring with a renewed sense of purpose, hoping their biggest win of the offseason, landing Coach Buglione will set the tone for a turnaround season.