Mercedes Padilla was named the Union University women's soccer assistant coach in May of 2023. She will serve as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. 

Padilla joins Union after spending one season as the assistant coach at Huntingdon College from June 2022 through June 2023. She also was the assistant girl's varsity coach at Trinity Presbyterian High School in the spring of 2023. Padilla coached five seasons of club-level soccer including four with the Barber Elite and one season with the Alabama FC South. 

Padilla said, "I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to continue to grow and learn as a collegiate coach. Union felt like home as soon as I stepped on campus, and I am thankful that this was in the Lord's plan for me. Thank you to Coach Joshua Alford, Director of Athletics Mark Campbell, and President Oliver for trusting me to bring in my knowledge and leadership to this program. I hope to help Josh continuously grow the women's soccer program and I am looking forward to a strong season this fall." 

In 2021, Padilla graduated from Alabama State University with a degree in biology and a minor in chemistry. She added a master's degree in exercise science from Auburn University in Montgomery in 2023. 

Padilla played five years of soccer at Alabama State, helping her team to three Southwestern Athletic Conference Titles including the first in program history in 2016, and three NCAA Tournament appearances. She was named SWAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2016, Lakewood Hall of Fame Collegiate Soccer Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017, SWAC first-team all-conference in 2016, and second-team all-conference in 2021. 

In 2016, Padilla graduated Mayfair High School in Lakewood, California where she played four years of soccer. She was team captain as a junior and senior, All-Suburban League Defensive MVP as a junior and senior, first-team Dream Team, and first-team all-California Interscholastic Federation. 

Padilla is from Bellflower, California. She is the daughter of Roger and Valeria Padilla and has three brothers, Elijah, Joshua, and Michael.