Ithaca College women's head coach Mindy Quigg, now in her 28th season at IC, has announced that Francisco Javier Mejia-Blau will serve as the next assistant coach for the upcoming 2021 season. The Bombers, who haven't played since November 2, 2019, will officially begin their season at home on September 1 against Elmira College at 4 p.m.

"I am proud to welcome Javi to our Bomber program," said Quigg. "Javi brings to Ithaca a wealth of coaching experience along with a dynamic personality and unbridled enthusiasm for the athletic and educational experience. His contributions will extend far beyond the soccer fields and will enrich our entire Ithaca College community."

Most recently, Mejia worked with the South Shore Select Soccer Club in Hingham, Mass. as a staff coach and director of college advising and consulting. He worked with all age ranges and skill levels at the club and developed recruiting curriculum, aided in the exploration of colleges and universities to fit players' academic and athletic needs, and instructed on NCAA rules and regulations.

Before his role with South Shore Select, Mejia served as an assistant coach at Syracuse University during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. While at Syracuse, Mejia learned and instructed under U.S. Women's National Olympic Team and World Cup coach Phil Wheddon.

"I am extremely excited to become a part of the Ithaca College family," stated Mejia. "This is a fantastic institution of higher education, a traditionally successful athletics department and a top-notch women's soccer program. I owe head coach Mindy Quigg, Director of Athletics Susan Bassett '79 and the rest of the search committee a debt of gratitude for allowing me to join them. I look forward to helping the talented young women of Ithaca College women's soccer grow as people, students and athletes and I can't wait to get started."

Prior to his appointment at Syracuse, Mejia was the men's soccer head coach at Emerson College in Boston, Mass. for two seasons in 2015 and 2016. During those two seasons, Mejia coached five all-conference players and 13 academic all-conference honorees, as well as being selected as NSCAA Team Academic recipients twice.

Mejia has also spent time at Assumption College, Tufts University and Brandeis University as an assistant, and his coaching career dates back to 2004. In addition to his coaching experience at the collegiate level, Mejia was an assistant with the Boston Breakers – a professional women's soccer team – in 2010.

As an undergraduate, Mejia played one season at Hartford University before transferring to Emerson in 2001. He played three seasons with the Lions and was a two-year captain, guiding the program to 14 victories in 2004.

He earned his bachelor's in marketing communications and his master's in recreation and sports sciences with a concentration in coaching from Ohio University. He also holds certifications in coaching and goalkeeping from the United Soccer Coaches.

Mejia is also a member of several advocacy groups - Latino Coaches, Black Soccer Coaches, LGBTQ & Allies, and Women Coaches. Mejia also completed his master's certificate from the Pennsylvania West University in Sports Counseling and Student-Athlete Mental Wellness program during the summer of 2022.