Myernick is Wake Forest soccer assistant
By Rich Fisher, The Packet Group
One of the most important soccer voices in Mercer County history — and the greatest in Lawrence Township history — was silenced several years ago when Glenn “Mooch” Myernick shockingly passed away of a heart attack in October, 2006.
Nearly three years later, the hallowed Myernick name is being resurrected in the sport as Travis Myernick has signed on as the volunteer assistant coach at Wake Forest University — one of the nation’s premier soccer powers.
If his personality is any indication, Travis is headed for great things. After a 30-minute conversation with the 25-year-old, it feels as if you’re talking to Mooch himself, the personalities, voice inflections and senses of humor are so similar.
The only difference is, Travis needed to step away from the sport for a bit before realizing he belonged on the pitch. He was always given that option.
”My dad was unbelievably laid back and there was never any pressure on me to play soccer,” Myernick said from his office at Wake Forest on Monday. “I never felt pressure to be a soccer player or make my career in soccer.
”Once I did make a decision I wanted to be a soccer player, he made sure I took it seriously. That’s what his passion was, and I don’t think he could sit by and want me to be a part-time soccer player. I’ll use his example as my guide. Whatever you choose to do, there’s a right way and a wrong way, and you have to pour everything you have into it.”
For the youth of Lawrence who may not know of Mooch Myernick, ask around. You’ll learn quick enough.
The most acclaimed player in Lawrence High soccer, Myernick led the Cardinals to a slew of state and county championships in the early 1970’s. He went on to win the Herman Trophy, awarded to the nation’s top college soccer player, at Hartwick University before playing in the North American Soccer League.
Travis’s early life was that of a nomad. He was born while Mooch was playing for the NASL’s Tampa Bay Rowdies, then moved to Oneonta, N.Y., when his dad became a Hartwick assistant. When Mooch began working with United States Soccer, the family moved to Colorado when Travis was in third grade, and stayed put from there.
”I consider Colorado home,” said Travis, whose grandmother still lives in Lawrence. After graduating high school, he had a solid career at Division II Wingate College in North Carolina. But then his soccer career stalled.
”Like a lot of people, I played soccer in college and wanted to play professional soccer, it was always in the back of my mind that would be an option,” Myernick said. “That didn’t turn out to be the case. So, I had gone to college for four years to get a degree in sports management. I thought I should at least test the waters, use my degree and see where it would take me.”
Myernick touched base with Tim Murphy, another LHS star who was a good friend and teammate of Mooch. Murphy, an executive for Comcast Spectacor, helped Travis land a job in sports management with the Philadelphia Phillies. What would be a dream job for 95 percent of the sports management majors out there, turned into a wake-up call for Myernick.
”I just didn’t like it,” he said. “I missed being away from the game (of soccer). It wasn’t a hard decision at all. I always knew I wanted to coach some kind of soccer, even if it was coaching a little kids’ team on weekends.
”But when I was working for the Phillies, I couldn’t handle being away from the game. I knew it’s what I wanted to do all the time.”
Myernick left the Phils in January, 2008, and began looking for ways to get into coaching. Last fall, he utilized more of his dad’s contacts. Head coach Charlie Inverso let him help with the Mercer County Community College men’s soccer team, while former Steinert/Rider/NASL star Bobby Smith utilized Travis at his soccer academy in Robbinsville.
”I knew that because of my dad, there would be enough connections in the Trenton area that would be more than willing to help me out,” Myernick said. “Bobby, Charlie and a guy named Paul Tanimae (from Medford) really helped me out.
”Like any job, they weren’t just going to hand me some team and say, ‘Here you go.’ They wanted to see if I was capable, so I trained teams from ages 10 to about 16.”
What started as a coaching bug turned into a full-fledged fever and Myernick began sending out resumes all over the place, including the soccer-crazed Atlantic Coast Conference.
”I knew, because of my brief time being a coach, that my resume was not strong,” Myernick said. “I wasn’t going to be picky. I would test the waters and I’d take a job from anyone who had any spot for me. I was ready to move anywhere.”
One day in the spring, while walking his dog with girlfriend Lindsey, the phone rang and Myernick was shocked to hear Wake Forest head coach Jay Vidovich on the other end. The Demon Deacons were NCAA champions in 2007 and reached the national semifinals in 2008, so this wasn’t just any team calling.
”I was really surprised, let alone to have coach Jay call me personally,” Myernick said. “For him to offer me a spot with his staff, I’m unbelievably fortunate. Even though I’m not getting paid, it will be an invaluable experience. It’s a great opportunity.”
Myernick has also secured a paying job coaching with the Twin City Soccer Association, which has a good relationship with Wake Forst.
Travis freely admits that his last name likely played a big part in securing the position at Wake. But he realizes it’s a name that carries much responsibility. Mooch was the assistant head coach of the US National Team at the time of his passing, so there is much to live up to.
”Obviously, with my dad being a pretty popular figure in the soccer world, I don’t want to do a disservice to the Myernick name,” he said. “I don’t want to go out there and tarnish a name that has stood for nothing but good things in soccer.”
If his Mooch-like personality counts for anything in the coaching profession, the Myernick name has nothing to worry about.
It will live on proudly.