Ithaca College Women's Soccer

Mindy Quigg completed her 32nd year at Ithaca in 2025. Hired in 1994 as the program’s fourth head coach, she has become the program’s winningest coach, posting a record of 409-136-72 (.721). Ithaca has earned 23 NCAA playoff berths during her career, including trips to the national semifinals in 1998 and 2011 and NCAA quarterfinal appearances in 1996, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2013. Quigg became the 12th women's soccer coach in NCAA Division III history to reach 400 wins and is also the third female coach in Division III history to achieve 400 career wins. The 2024 season saw the Bombers capture the programs second Liberty League Championship as they prevailed 3-2 in penalty kicks and made their 30th all-time appearance in the NCAA Division III Soccer Championship. Along with eight All-Liberty League selections, Quigg and her assistant coaching staff of Javi Mejia, Tom Keane, Andy Byrne and Camryn Hart earned Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year honors. They directed the Bombers to a 7-2 mark against league opponents and a 14-3-4 overall record. In 2023, IC played the first-ever soccer game held on Butterfield Stadium hosting St. Lawerence in a Liberty League First Round matchup that they won 2-0. The Bombers finished the year with a 10-3-4 overall record and during the spring of 2024, the program took its fifth international trip in over 20 years spending their spring break in Portugal. The 2022 campaign saw the Bombers capture the Liberty League Conference Championship, defeating William Smith in penalty kicks. The program made its 29th appearance in the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament where they won their first round matchup against Capital University but fell to Case Western Reserve University in the second round. Quigg and her assistant coaches picked up United Soccer Coaches Region III Coaching Staff of the Year recognition following the outstanding season. During the 2021 season, the Bombers returned to the NCAA Championship for the first time since 2018. Quigg coached forward Alex Epifani to three All-American selections over her career at Ithaca; the fourth three-time All-American in program history.  Quigg was the Ithaca Journal’s selection as female coach of the year following the 1998 "final four" season and earned the honor again in 2008, 2009 and 2013. She was also honored as the Empire Athletic Association (EAA) co-coach of the year in 1994 and as the NSCAA regional coach of the year in 1996 and 2012. In 2003 she shared the NYSWCAA’s Coach of the Year award and a year later she was named Empire 8 Coach of the Year. Quigg went on to be named Empire 8 Coach of the Year in 2007, 2008, 2009. 2012 and 2013. Quigg added to her list of accolades in 2018, as she and her staff were named Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year for the first time since joining the league.  Quigg came to Ithaca after three years as the women’s soccer coach at West Virginia Wesleyan. She guided the Bobcats to a 38-18 record and two district runner-up finishes. Her overall coaching record stands at 428-145-64. She served on the NCAA Women's Soccer New York Region Committee from 1995 to 2000 and again from 2004 to 2006. Quigg chaired the Empire 8 women's soccer committee from 2008 to 2010. Quigg earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from William Smith in 1989 and her master’s in business administration from West Virginia Wesleyan in 1992. She was a captain and goalkeeper for William Smith’s 1988 national champion team. Quigg set a school record with 325 saves, and the Herons were 56-10-6 during her college career. In addition to her soccer duties at Ithaca, Quigg is an instructor in the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance. 7/29/2026

Ithaca College women's head coach Mindy Quigg announced that Francisco Javier Mejia-Blau would join the staff as an assistant coach prior to the start of the 2021 season. Following the 2025 season, Mejia was promoted to Associate Head Coach after the Bombers sustained their high level of success, posting a 57-27-20 record over the past five seasons. The 2024 season saw the Bombers capture the programs second Liberty League Championship as they prevailed 3-2 in penalty kicks and made their 30th appearance in the NCAA Division III Soccer Championship. Along with eight All-Liberty League selections, Ithaca head coach Mindy Quigg and her assistant coaching staff of Mejia, Tom Keane, Andy Byrne and Camryn Hart earned Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year honors. They directed the Bombers to a 7-2 mark against league opponents and a 14-3-4 overall record. During the 2021 season, the Bombers returned to the NCAA Championship for the first time since 2018 and in 2022 the team captured it's first-ever Liberty League Conference Championship, defeating William Smith in penalty kicks. Mejia along with head coach Mindy Quigg earned United Soccer Coaches Region III Coaching Staff of the Year recognition following the outstanding season and he was also promoted to assistant coach/recruiting coordinator prior to the start of the 2023 season.   "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. 1/5/2026

Julia Lapp has been a nutrition faculty member at Ithaca College for the past 21 years, which means she’s spent over two decades talking about food, energy, and what promotes wellness and fuels performance. She’s had many women’s soccer student-athletes in her classes over the years and has developed an appreciation for their discipline, teamwork, and commitment to their academics as well as the soccer program. She’s excited to support the team in a role that blends mentorship, encouragement, and the occasional reminder to eat something besides a protein bar.