Jeff Mejia

Jeff Mejia of North Reading, currently assistant baseball coach at Suffolk University, is the new head coach of the Northern Essex Community College Knights, NECC’s baseball team, which was third in the nation in its division last spring.

He was selected from more than two dozen applicants says Sue MacAvoy, NECC athletic director.

“We’re very excited to have him,” says MacAvoy.  “He has a lot of great experience and an excellent reputation.”

Mejia has been the assistant Suffolk coach for more than seven years. In that position, he has coached Northern Essex players who transferred to Suffolk.

He says he was attracted to the NECC position because he understands and appreciates how the community college system works. He is especially impressed with Northern Essex.

“The tradition of baseball here is excellent,” he says. “Northern Essex has an excellent name throughout New England baseball and the students who transfer from here to four- year schools have really good reputations.”

Mejia says his coaching style is a mix of being a “players’ coach and a disciplinarian”. The players can expect dedication and hard work from him and he expects dedication and hard work from them.

“I expect dedication, hard work, and commitment from them on and off the field,” he says. “That’s what it is really about. First and foremost the students are here to advance their academics.”

First up, the 20 plus baseball players can expect Mejia to implement a new conditioning program.

He is also a co-owner and president of the Rams Athletic Complex in North Reading.

Mejia replaces Chris Shanahan who resigned earlier this fall to take a full-time coaching opportunity at a four-year college.  In his four years with the Knights, the team secured a conference win and a trip to the junior college world series where they placed third in the nation last fall.

For more information, contact Sue MacAvoy, athletic director, at  978 556-3820 or smacavoy@necc.mass.edu