U.S. assistantÆs coaching career has touched all levels of the U.S. game.
By Mike Woitalla
Executive Editor, Soccer America Magazine
Only during a brief period in his adult life did Glenn ''Mooch'' Myernick not earn his livelihood from soccer.
After the NASL folded in 1985 he turned down indoor soccer offers while waiting for a coaching opportunity.
At BernÆs Steak House in Tampa, Myernick served as wine steward.
''I was a hack sommelier,'' he says. ''I was very good at drinking wine and knowing what tasted good and what didnÆt. All the finite little details, I never intended to know all that.''
His approach to soccer is different.
''He pays attention to the details,'' says U.S. midfielder Kerry Zavagnin. ''He dissects the game and gives good advice. HeÆs a soccer junkie. Someone IÆll always listen to.''
Myernick has been a U.S. national team assistant coach for more than four years.
''HeÆll notice a little detail about your game and then give you hints and little tips that are very helpful,'' says national team newcomer Todd Dunivant. ''He works with players after practice. He gets into the mix. He strikes a good ball.''
Josh Wolff says,''HeÆs great at scouting opponents. He helps all the guys, whether itÆs a first-year guy or a veteran like myself.''
And not only on the field.
''HeÆs a wealth of knowledge,'' Wolff says with chuckle. ''He helps guys with their crossword puzzles, looking over their shoulders and giving them answers.''
Myernick came out of the soccer hotbed of Trenton, N.J., played college ball at Hartwick, where he won the Hermann Trophy, and earned 10 caps for the USA.
Dallas made him the No. 1 pick of the 1977 NASL draft. In his first month, he marked Rodney Marsh of the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Pele of the Cosmos. Dallas won both games.
''I said to myself,'Wow, thatÆs pretty easy,''' Myernick jokes.
He also played for the Portland Timbers and Tampa Bay Rowdies and was one of the most successful Americans in a league dominated by foreigners.
After the short venture with wine and some substitute teaching, he became assistant coach at the University of Tampa before moving back to his alma mater, Hartwick, for an assistantÆs job. But his coaching career had started much earlier.
''When I was in 10th grade,'' Myernick says, ''the guys running the youth soccer league, Trenton Hamnetts, I grew up with, said, 'YouÆve been with us since you were 5 years old. YouÆve been along for everything. How about helping us coach the littlest kids in our league?'
''I really enjoyed it. Having been coaching ever since 10th grade gives me a great appreciation for the whole span of player development. At some stage, I have coached every possible age group.''
MyernickÆs also coached at every level of the menÆs national team program and coached at all of FIFAÆs male world championships: U-20 assistant coach (1993), U-17 head coach (1995), U-23 Olympic assistant coach (1996) and World Cup assistant coach (2002).
He also was head coach of the Colorado Rapids in 1997-2000. They finished runner-up in 1997 and reached the playoffs each season.
''The game is the same,'' he says.
''ThatÆs the beauty of it. You always start from that principal. But at different stages of development you have different priorities.
''For instance, when youÆre working with the U-17s, those kids are 15 and 16 years old and if they really want to make a career out of this, you start teaching them some of the details of the game and get a little more tactically oriented with them. You start teaching them about professional habits, the commitment it takes on a daily basis if you really want to polish this craft.
''With the national team, weÆre lucky. They all know how to play and our job is make them into a team. Picking this guy to play next to that guy…''
MyernickÆs first stint under Head Coach Bruce Arena was with the 1996 Olympic team.
''I thoroughly enjoy working with Bruce,'' Myernick says. ''HeÆs a very strong, dominant personality, but open to some ideas and opinions on what we do in training, selection of the team. As a staff, we all have our own areas of responsibility. He doesnÆt look over your shoulder or micromanage. He says, 'This what you need to do. This is when it needs to be done by. Go get it done.' And you go and do it. ItÆs a really nice way to work.''
(This article originally appeared in the March 2006 issue of Soccer America Magazine.)