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West
Windsor, N.J. - Mention the name Charlie Inverso and most people
connect him with soccer at Mercer County Community College, where
he completed his 24th season as head coach for the men's team in
2009.
No longer. Inverso announced his resignation in early February,
leaving behind a legacy of success that has put Mercer on the national
stage for junior college men's soccer. Under Inverso, the MCCC Vikings
made 18 trips to the nationals, with 13 Final Four appearances and
nine trips to the finals, coming away with five national championships
over three decades, most recently in 2004. Along the way, his Vikings
squads dominated the Garden State Athletic Conference, Region 19
and Northeast District.
Since
his first season in 1986, Inverso compiled a 434-46-14 record (a
.904 winning percentage), the second best victory total of any coach
in junior college history.
Just as impressive, approximately 150 MCCC soccer players have gone
on to four-year schools, with 86 attending on athletic scholarships.
Two sophomores recently received scholarships to transfer in fall
2010: Amit Aburmad to Boston College and Ido Ligety to St. John's
University. Sixteen former players have played professionally, including
Major League Soccer, the premier divisions of Europe and the 2006
World Cup.
With
over 40 players who have gone on to coach college, high school or
club programs, Inverso's contribution to soccer in Mercer County
and beyond is significant. Said MCCC Athletics Director John Simone,
"Coach Inverso has had an indelible impact on the soccer program
at Mercer. He has brought us to a level of excellence that we will
work hard to live up to."
According to Simone, the search for a new men's coach is underway.
Inquiries about Vikings men's soccer should be addressed to Interim
Coach Tom DeStefano at destefat@mccc.edu
or by calling 609-570-3746.
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