Dlugosz, Inverso and Vecchiolla Honored with NJCAA Coaches' Legacy Award

 

 

 

This year, the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) created the Coaches Legacy Award, honoring the all-time winningest coaches in NJCAA history. Dr. Christopher Parker, President and CEO of the NJCAA announced the establishment of this award in December.  “Recognizing the Association's all-time winningest coaches is a wonderful celebration of the proud history of the NJCAA and pays tribute to the success of the many men and women who have helped pave the way for thousands of student-athletes over the decades.  This is the first time since 1938 that the NJCAA will recognize the achievements and proud legacy of coaches at one time” said Parker of the award.

 

Mercer County Community College had three of its former coaches honored with this prestigious award: men’s soccer coaches Stan Dlugosz and Charlie Inverso and tennis coach Marc Vecchiolla.  The criteria for the award for soccer coaches was 300 or more wins and for tennis was three or more national championships.

 

Dlugosz established the MCCC men’s soccer program in 1963, coaching it for nineteen seasons.  Dlugosz had a 311-42-8 record and won two National Championships in 1963 and 1968.  In addition to coaching the MCCC men’s soccer program, Dlugosz also created the Mercer men’s tennis program in 1974 and served as Head Coach for 35 years.

 

Inverso was the Head Men’s Soccer Coach for 24 years from 1986-2009.  Inverso led Mercer to five national championships (1988, 1991, 1995, 1996, 2004) and amassed a 434-46-14 record. Inverso’s winning percentage remains the highest of any men’s soccer coach in NJCAA history. During his 24-year tenure at Mercer, eighteen of his teams qualified for the NJCAA National Soccer Tournament.  Over 150 of his players graduated from Mercer or transferred to four-year schools and 40 went on to become college or high school coaches.  Inverso was grateful to be amongst the first coaches to receive this award. "It is a great honor, especially considering this was the first ever Legacy Award. I inherited a program at Mercer that was already a national power, one that was built by Stan, Al Leister and Joe Sec.  My job was to take care of the program. I'm proud to receive this award along with Stan and Marc."

 

Vecchiolla coached the Mercer women’s tennis program for 24 years from 1997-2024 and the men’s team from 2008-2019. Vecchiolla has coached the only four MCCC women’s teams to win NJCAA National Championships (1999, 2000, 2002, 2005). Vecchiolla coached Coached 45 NJCAA All-Americans, was a four-time NJCAA National Coach of the Year and was the youngest coach inducted into NJCAA Hall of Fame in 2005 at 36 years old.  Vecchiolla was National Runner-up four times with the women’s team (1998, 2001, 2006, 2011) and once with the men’s team in 2016.

 

Vecchiolla was very humbled to be receiving the Legacy Award. “The thing is, there is nothing better than being part of a team, and I coached 37 teams. This is a shared accomplishment as far as I’m concerned. Our program’s focus was never winning. The goal was to work hard, learn and most of all, be respectful and have FUN. Winning was just a biproduct of those ingredients. Thank yous are boring for people to read but I have so much thanks for the players I’ve coached and the relationships we built. I had VOLUNTEER assistant coaches who gave so much of their time for 27 years Ralph Bencivengo and Barb Pleva. The Athletic Directors, trainers, college support staff and of course, my supportive family were all so critical to our success. I have so many fond memories from all over the country, funny stories and indelible moments from this experience that have enriched my life. I’m proud of our legacy and surprised and humbled to be recognized in this fashion.”

 

 

NJCAA Legacy Award Winners were honored in Charlotte on June 17^th.  MCCC is the only junior college in the country to have two soccer coaches receive this award.  Vecchiolla is one of just three women’s tennis coaches to be awarded this honor.

 

For more on the strong and storied athletic programs at MCCC, visit: https://www.mccc.edu/athletics_home.shtml