Jesse Siordia announced as Eastern Michigan’s 1st women’s flag football coach
Siordia comes to Ypsilanti after leading Siena Heights to a national title in flag football.
Eastern Michigan University on Thursday announced that Jesse Siordia is set to join the Eagles as the school’s first-ever women’s flag football head coach.
Siordia comes from Siena Heights, where he coached the Saints to a National Collegiate Flag Football League national championship in the second season of the program’s existence. Eastern Michigan announced the formation of a women’s flag football team in April, with competition beginning in the spring of 2027.
Andrew Graham
"After 23 years in the Navy, I learned that strong teams are built through trust, discipline, sacrifice, and belief in something bigger than yourself," Siordia said. "Winning the National Collegiate Flag Football Championship at Siena Heights University proved what can happen when athletes fully buy into that vision. I'm incredibly thankful to the leadership at Eastern Michigan University for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to build something special here. I also wouldn't be in this position without the constant support of my wife and family, who have stood beside me through every long season, road trip, and challenge along the way. I'm excited to bring a championship mentality, relentless work ethic, and passion for growing women's flag football to EMU and help build one of the top programs in the state and country."
Siordia is an attractive choice for EMU in part because he’s got experience building a flag football program up from the foundation, as he did at Siena Heights.
Siordia also worked with Under Armour’s Under the Lights, and coached flag and 7 on 7 football as part of that work. He also founded Gridiron Flag Football, a local program to southeast Michigan that reached more than 500 participants in year one, and a subsequent program to get athletes more exposure to play in college.
Siordia has also coached high school football locally, with stints at Walled Lake Western and Waterford Kettering. He’s also coached 7 on 7 working with Rising Stars Academy.
"Jesse is a program builder with a clear vision for success," said EMU athletic director Scott Wetherbee. "He has led at every level of the sport and understands how to grow the game, develop student-athletes, and build a culture that competes for championships. His experience starting and sustaining a collegiate program made him the right choice to lead Eastern Michigan into this new era."
Siordia comes to Eastern Michigan as Siena Heights University shutters at the conclusion of this academic year.
