Atletico Ottawa Staff Unveiled: Mejia Leads Refreshed Coaching Line-Up

The rumours are true: Diego Mejia has become Atletico Ottawa’s third-ever head coach, succeeding Carlos Gonzalez ahead of the 2025 CPL season.

The former Liga MX head coach had stepped up from assistant to head coach with FC Juarez in April 2023, leading the side through 28 matches and finishing with a 6-6-16 record through the Apertura and Clausura before moving on.

New Atletico Ottawa CEO Manuel Vega says the club conducted an extensive search that included both domestic and international candidates before landing on Mejia, who he believes will align well with the club’s vision and recruitment strategy.

The 41-year-old head coach is a former player himself, having featured in over 400 matches through Mexico’s first and second tiers before hanging up his boots in 2018.

“Diego’s ability to connect with players and maximize their potential makes him an ideal leader for our team,” explains Vega. “We’re confident he will drive our success while strengthening our foundation for the future.”

The coaching staff will see an overhaul behind Mejia: after seeing the bulk of Gonzalez’s assistants land new gigs elsewhere, we can now confirm that Kwesi Loney is not currently listed on the technical staff either.

Instead, the assistant staff will be comprised of Diego Campos – another former pro from Mexico who had assisted at Club Puebla – and former Ottawa Fury goalkeeper Romuald Peiser, who spent several seasons in the nation’s capital and won a Golden Glove award in 2015.

Peiser was most recently the goalkeeper coach of CF Montreal, where former CPL loanee Jonathan Sirois has flourished at the MLS level.

The club is also adding Alex Baro as its strength and conditioning coach. He arrives from San Cristobal in Spain, with the technical staff rounding out with physical therapist Mitchell Rangel as the new director of sports science. The American-Brazilian dual national brings with him a sporting background with a UFC, MMA, and wrestling focus.

Mejia, who has touched based with officials in sister club Atletico San Luis, will soon travel to Canada for the Ottleti preseason camp. The squad will train at home shortly before travelling to Mexico ahead of the 2025 CPL season.

There are growing links between Liga MX and CPL opportunities, with former York United head coach Benjamin Mora landing a gig with Queretaro following his time in Canada’s top flight.

While JD Ulanowski confirmed that the club had progressed in roster signings in absense of a new head coach, Mejia’s influence is expected to be felt in the remainder of the club’s signings this offseason.

The capital city club currently has twelve players on the books for 2025. While the team recently locked in big names like Amer Didic and Alberto Zapater, others like hometown winger Kris Twardek and Ottawa’s own Matteo de Brienne have moved on.