Women's Flag Football

 Siena Heights athletic director Sue Syljebeck has announced the hire of Jesse Siordia as the first head coach in Saints women's flag football history. A Navy veteran, Siordia has been closely involved with the growth of flag football in Michigan.

"Our committee knew we wanted someone with flag football experience and knowledge of the flag football world," Syljebeck said. "Jesse has been the director of operations for the UnderArmour Under The Light flag football program, he is the executive director of Gridiron Flag Football in southeast Michigan and he has coached an UnderArmour travel team for which he has led to numerous championships."

Siordia has experience coaching football at several levels: high school football, 7v7 football and flag football.

As director of operations for UA Under The Lights, Siordia has overseen the organization's growth from 160 players in 2016 to 1,200 in 2023. He has also been a flag and 7v7 travel coach for the Waterford-based club since 2016.

Siordia has also been involved with the Rising Stars Academy, which was established in Pontiac in 2021. He took up coaching a 7v7 team for the Academy in 2023. He also created the Gridiron Flag Football program in southeast Michigan in 2023.

"I want to thank everybody at Siena for the opportunity," Siordia said. "To be the first in something is a great honor. Thank you to Sue Syljebeck, Sam Bartelotti and Dr. Palmer, and everybody on the staff I have met with. I'm here to make you guys proud and have Siena on the forefront of this magical journey."

Siordia's high school experience included a two-year stint as an assistant for Walled Lake Western in 2008-09 and a one-year campaign with Waterford Kettering in 2023.

Siordia sailed for the United States Navy from 1999 until 2021. The Texas native was deployed to Afghanistan in 2011-12.

The inaugural Siena Heights women's flag season will take place in the spring of 2025.