Some 24 student athletes were among the crowd of new students that landed on campus last month, bringing the total number of student athletes here to 53. They’re a diverse group, hailing from England, Colombia, Brazil, Spain, the Dominican Republic, the United States, Peru, and Mexico. They join three recently hired coaches and new sports opportunities.

“These are really exciting times,” says Rubén Sanchez, the director of MIU’s athletics program and head soccer coach.

“After a busy summer, our Pioneer Sports Program at MIU is up and running with a clear vision, a pioneer mindset, and a team that includes Consciousness-Based and industry leaders, staff, coaches, and players,” Rubén says. “We’re creating the foundations that will transform the MIU experience, the Fairfield community, and the way sports are understood in the industry around the world.”

>>Click here to see drone footage from MIU’s first soccer match of the season, on September 7, against Southeast Iowa Community College, which ended in a 1–1 tie.<<

New student athletes

Among the new student athletes is Cesar Israel Sanchez Mendez, a men’s soccer player from Alabama.

“I chose MIU because it offers a great opportunity to grow both athletically and academically,” Cesar says. “It has strong values and a community of committed, genuine people. What attracted me the most was its focus on the holistic development — not only shaping athletes but also forming purposeful leaders on and off the field.”

Andrea Iniguez, a women’s flag football player, came to MIU from Chicago.

“The thing I most like about MIU is the friendly environment, for sure!” Andrea says. “No matter who you pass, everybody is so friendly and always greets you with a warm smile. Everyone here is so unique and different. This is something I found very authentic and special, because you can really find your people here and take something you learnt from them. Exploring myself and being able to play in a sport I’m passionate about has opened a door for me here at MIU.”

New sports

Last year MIU began competing in men’s soccer and men’s tennis. This year adds women’s tennis, women’s flag football, and collegiate (coed) esports.

Women’s flag football has become very popular, rising quickly from a grassroots movement into a competitive intercollegiate sport. Played in a five-on-five format on a smaller field, it’s fast-paced, non-contact, and appealing to student athletes.

Janae Scott, one of the top women’s flag football players in the country, is enrolling at MIU this spring and will play on the team. Janae has been selected to the initial 18-athlete roster for the 2025 USA Women’s Flag Football team that will defend its International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Americas Continental Flag Football Championship, as announced by USA Football.

The NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) officially recognized flag football for both men and women in 2020, and dozens of colleges have launched programs since then, offering scholarships and new athletic pathways for female athletes. Flag football will debut as an Olympic sport at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, with both men’s and women’s competitions.

Esports is huge and growing huger. The National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) has 230 full member institutions. More than 615 colleges and universities compete in NACE Starleague, the largest collegiate esports league in North America, and more than 13,000 esports students compete for a wide range of esports titles. More and more schools are offering esports scholarships and other incentives to attract top gaming talent. Colleges are also building dedicated esports facilities, including gaming arenas and training centers.

New coaches

Three new coaches have joined MIU’s coaching staff, alongside Rubén Sanchez, MIU’s men’s soccer head coach and a founder of the new athletics program at MIU.

Makena Hurse is the head coach of women’s flag football. She started playing flag football at 11 and by 22 was running youth and adult leagues. She’s experienced as a player, coach, and referee.

She’s excited to join MIU and share her enthusiasm with college athletes. “Coaching is one of my greatest passions,” Makena says. “It allows me to inspire and guide others toward reaching their full potential. I love seeing growth, both in skills and confidence, and knowing that I played a role in that journey. Being a coach gives me purpose, connection, and the chance to make a lasting impact on people’s lives. I can provide all that with the help of being at MIU.”

Caio Pereira is the men’s soccer associate head coach. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he came to the US at 17. As a student-athlete at the College of Idaho, he was the team captain and a two-time All-Conference player.

Before coming to MIU, he was the assistant soccer coach at Indian Hills Community College, where he led the team to National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national appearances, a district championship, five weeks as nation’s number one-ranked team, and where he was voted 2024 NJCAA Midwest Region Staff of the Year.

“Working at MIU is a very amazing opportunity,” he says. “I’m learning a new perspective, and the Consciousness-Based sports methodology is teaching me every day how to become a better professional and a better human.”  

Emilia Katopodi is the women’s head tennis coach. A former professional tennis player of EthioGreek heritage, she started playing tennis at age four in Addis Ababa, played on Ethiopia’s national team, had the second-highest national ranking, won multiple local tournament wins, and trained internationally at academies in Germany and Spain.

She has worked as an assistant coach for children and teens in summer camps in Ethiopia and as an assistant coach at a tennis academy in Japan.

“I will lead the development of our university’s tennis program with a clear goal,” Emilia says. “To build a competitive and sustainable team capable of joining the NAIA and advancing to higher divisions.”

Eric Enlow, the head esports coach, comes with a wide range of coaching and teaching experience. He has coached more than 20 private esports teams. He was the head coach for the Lathrop High School esports team in Fairbanks, Alaska; assistant coach at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa; and a behavioral coach for LCS Proving Grounds, a competitive League of Legends esports tournament designed to spotlight emerging talent in North America.

He was the lead broadcaster for NECC Pokémon Unite 2026, a collegiate-level esports competition hosted by the National Esports Collegiate Conference. He also spent four years as a classroom teacher and four years in the field of mental health and suicide prevention.

“I intend to deploy and adapt to MIU’s powerful coaching methodology to present a powerful message to the community and beyond,” Eric says. “It’s my personal mission to redefine what it means to be an esport athlete.”

• Men’s soccer – 17 matches are planned altogether, including five home games. See the schedule below.
• Flag football – The season starts in the spring semester, with five tournaments planned.
• Esports – Competitions scheduled throughout the year.
• Tennis – The first tournament was at Simpson College on September 14. Other matches and events are being planned..

Exciting highlights for this year

Major strategic initiatives

• Doubling the number of student-athletes at MIU by next year.
• Applying to join the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), with its 237 member institutions across the country and more than 83,000 participating student athletes. The NAIA provides student-athletes with access to national competitions, athletic scholarships, and a well-established collegiate sports network.
• Applying to join the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) starting in Fall 2026. The USCAA supports smaller colleges by offering national championship opportunities and recognition tailored to schools with limited athletic budgets and enrollment.
• Expanding to other sports, including women’s soccer, women’s tennis, men’s basketball, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country, and potentially men’s and women’s track and field.
• Launching a sports development program with donors, community, and alumni. Engaging donors, the local community, and alumni to support, invest in, and participate in the growth of MIU athletics programs — including fundraising, mentorship, volunteer opportunities, and special events.
• Developing a master plan to upgrade our sports facilities in the coming years.
• Planning a full upgrade to the Fieldhouse to be the Home of the Pioneers.

Community engagement and events

• Holding a major donor event on October 2 to present Global Consciousness-Based Activities aligned with the MIU Sports Program and Maharishi School’s vision for the future of sports.
• Launching sports events across campus to boost community involvement.
• Hosting a soccer camp to engage younger athletes and the community (next spring).

Athletic and training innovations

• Implementing Consciousness-Based Training for athletes and coaches, including EEG measurements and satisfaction metrics for success.

Visibility and branding

• New website – launching at the end of September.
• New social media – @miu.athletics @miu.mensoccer @miu.flagfootball @miu.tennis
• New sports gear – available for the whole community – pre-order opportunity coming soon.

Reporting by Maria Eduards Rodrigues da Silva, MIU Sports Information & Creative Director

Banner photo by Craig Pearson