Glenn “Mooch” Myernick passed away at 2:30 a.m. MDT on Monday, Oct. 9, 2007, after suffering a heart attack on Thursday, Oct. 5. He was 51 years old.

“Glenn Myernick's passing leaves an enormous void on the landscape of United States soccer,” said NSCAA President Louise Waxler. “He was an outstanding player and coach and a loyal friend of the NSCAA. We will feel his loss both personally and professionally for a long time.”

A long-time NSCAA member and dear friend of the Association, Myernick was actively involved the NSCAA's coaching education efforts. A former member of the NSCAA Academy staff, he had at one time served as Associate Director of Coaching and was a frequent clinician and lecturer. He recently had taken part in a goodwill mission to South Africa, helping put on soccer clinics in Cape Town, Pretoria and Johannesburg.

A two-time NSCAA All-America, Myernick won the 1976 Hermann Trophy as a defender at Hartwick College, which he led to the NCAA College Cup that season. His playing career included 10 caps and the captaincy of the U.S. Men's National Team and eight years in the NASL, where he played for the Dallas, Portland and Tampa Bay franchises.

He then went into coaching, serving as an assistant at Hartwick and the University of Tampa. He twice served as a coach for U.S. Soccer, from 1992-97 and again from 2001 until the time of his passing, along the way serving at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and the last two World Cups. In 1997, he began a four-year stint as coach of the Colorado Rapids, leading the team to the MLS Cup final in his first year at the helm. The Rapids reached the playoffs each of his four years as coach.

Myernick is survived by his wife, Nancy, son Travis and daughter Kelly. A private funeral is planned, to be followed by a celebration of Myernick's life on a date to be announced.

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