Liam MacKenzie – Student Reporter
North Andover, MA – The newest chapter of the Merrimack Baseball program is underway as the Warriors have officially named Jeffrey Mejia their new head coach just days before the start of July. Mejia takes over the program after Brian Murphy stepped down earlier this month following five seasons leading his alma mater.
Mejia now assumes the role of skipper with the task of guiding a Merrimack program that continues to establish itself at the Division I level and compete in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). His hiring signals the beginning of a fresh era as the Warriors look to build toward sustained success in the seasons ahead.
Taking Over for Brian Murphy – Mejia inherits a program that continued to make significant strides under Murphy’s leadership. After returning to his alma mater in 2021, Murphy helped guide Merrimack through its transition to Division I while establishing the Warriors as a competitive program in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).
Murphy caps off his five-year tenure with an overall record of 114-140-2, including a 79-71 mark in conference play. His final season proved to be his most successful as the Warriors finished 27-29 overall and 20-10 in the MAAC, tying for the second-best regular-season record after being projected to finish 12th in the preseason coaches’ poll. Merrimack also won its first-ever MAAC Tournament game with a 7-0 victory over Canisius on May 20, while closing conference play on a 10-game winning streak that highlighted the program’s continued progress under Murphy’s leadership.
“Brian has been instrumental in the growth and success of Merrimack baseball, helping guide the program through its Division I transition and establishing it as a competitor in the MAAC,” Merrimack Director of Athletics Joe Foley said. “We greatly appreciate the commitment, passion and leadership he brought to our student-athletes and our department. We thank Brian for everything he has done for Merrimack and wish him nothing but success in the future.”
Mejia Brings a Winning Pedigree – Merrimack now turns to Mejia to lead the next phase of the program’s development.
During his 14 seasons as head coach at Northern Essex Community College, Mejia compiled an outstanding 362-154 record, winning more than 70 percent of his games. Under his leadership, the Knights made 11 regional championship appearances and advanced to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) World Series 10 times, establishing themselves as one of the nation’s premier junior college baseball programs. Mejia’s success also earned him widespread recognition, as he was named the NJCAA New England Region XXI Coach of the Year 11 times and the NJCAA Northeast District Coach of the Year 10 times.
Beyond the impressive numbers, Mejia built a reputation for developing student-athletes and creating a winning culture. His experience in recruiting, player development, and sustained success made him an ideal choice to become the next leader of Merrimack Baseball.
Looking Ahead – With a new skipper in place, Merrimack now shifts its focus toward preparing for the 2027 season. Mejia will begin assembling his coaching staff, evaluating the roster, and continuing to build a program capable of competing for MAAC championships.
Replacing a respected alumnus like Brian Murphy is no easy task, but Merrimack believes Jeffrey Mejia is the right person to guide the program into its next chapter. With a proven track record of success and championship experience, Mejia now takes the reins of a Warriors program that will look to build on the momentum established over the past several seasons.
