U.S. Soccer Mourns the Loss of Glenn "Mooch" Myernick

Longtime U.S. MNT Assistant Coach Remembered
as “Player & Coach Deeply Passionate About Soccer and Life”

THORNTON, Colo. (October 9, 2006) – The entire U.S. Soccer family is mourning the loss of U.S. Men’s National Team assistant coach Glenn “Mooch” Myernick, who passed away on Monday morning after failing to regain consciousness following a heart attack he suffered on Thursday (Oct. 5).

Myernick, 51, died peacefully surrounded by his wife Nancy, daughter Kelly and son Travis, at the North Suburban Medical Center in Thornton, Colo. The family wishes to express their extreme gratitude for the outpouring of support they’ve received over the past few days from people around the country. Funeral arrangements will be private, and a celebration of the life of Glenn Myernick will be planned in the near future.

The loss of Myernick, an assistant coach for the USA at the last two FIFA World Cups, is the loss of an American soccer pioneer who represented the U.S. at every level as a player and a coach across a lifetime of soccer success.

“Glenn Myernick was a player and coach deeply passionate about soccer and life,” said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati. “Whether it was family, friends or soccer, ‘Mooch’ was the kind of person that embraced everything in life, loving every minute of it. He will truly be missed by all of us in the U.S. Soccer family, and our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Nancy and his children at this difficult time."

In addition to being an integral part of the USA's quarterfinal run at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, it was Myernick who coached the USA in their championship victory at the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup after head coach Bruce Arena was suspended for the final.

Myernick had a standout collegiate career at Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y., winning the Hermann Trophy as the sport's outstanding player in 1976. He also starred in the NASL with numerous teams, earning MVP honors for the Portland Timbers in 1982.

Myernick played more games for the U.S. National Team than any other U.S. National Team coach, serving as team captain in 1978 and compiling 10 caps. He also started four games for the U.S. Olympic Team in qualifying for the 1976 Games.

“We lost a great person today,” said former U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Bruce Arena. “He was an unbelievable husband and father, and the finest soccer person I've ever come across in the United States. He was an amazing resource for soccer in this country. He will be sorely missed. My heart and thoughts are with his wife Nancy and children, Kelly and Travis, and the rest of his family."

He began his international coaching career as an assistant for the U.S. Under-20 National Team in 1993 at the FIFA World Youth Championship in Australia, and then coached the U-17s at the FIFA U-17 World Championship in Ecuador. After serving as an assistant coach for Arena at the 1996 Olympic Games, Myernick took the reins of the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer for four seasons from 1997 to 2000. He would eventually compile a 63-61-4 record and guided the team to the 1997 MLS Cup during his first season at the helm. Myernick took over as the head coach of the U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team in 2002, guiding the team’s efforts to qualify for the 2004 Olympics.

Per a request from the Myernick family, in lieu of flowers fans can make a donation to one of two charitable funds set up in his honor. Donors should make checks payable to either the Mooch Myernick Fund in care of the U.S. Soccer Foundation, or to the Colorado Rapids Community Care Foundation, referencing the Mooch Myernick Memorial Fund.

U.S. Soccer Foundation
Attn: Mooch Myernick Fund
1050 17th St., NW, Suite 210
Washington, DC 20036.

Colorado Rapids Community Relations Dept.
Attn: Mooch Myernick Memorial
1000 Chopper Circle
Denver, CO 80204

Fans can send their memories of "Mooch" to ussoccer.com at mooch@ussoccer.org. ussoccer.com will post thoughts and memories of Myernick from his friends and fans throughout the coming days.