Rider coach to receive award from world’s largest soccer coaches’ organization

Rider University Men's Soccer Head Coach Charlie Inverso will be honored with one of five inaugural Advocacy Awards of Excellence presented by the United Soccer Coaches at its 2019 Convention in Chicago on Friday, Jan. 11. Inverso will receive the Latin American Coaches Award of Excellence for his work with Mooch Soccer.

Founded in 2006 by Inverso and New Jersey Youth Coach Mike Van Wagner, Mooch Soccer works to make soccer available to underserved children in Trenton in the memory of National Soccer Hall of Famer and Trenton native Glenn "Mooch" Myernick. The program was established to not only give urban youth a recreational program but also access to high-level coaching.

"I'm elated about this award," Inverso says. "I'm not sure I deserve it, but it is a great wake-up call that tells me I have to do more for the underserved kids in this area. Underserved children will play a massive part in the future of soccer in the U.S. and we are not doing nearly as much as we should to help their development."

The program has already produced a high-level talent in Manchester United and U.S. Men's National Team right back Matthew Olosunde.  

At Rider, Inverso has elevated the men's soccer program to one of the best in the region. The Broncs have advanced to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship Game in each of the last four years, winning titles and advancing to the NCAA Championships in 2015, 2016 and 2018. Inverso eclipsed 500 career collegiate coaching wins this season, following 24 years at Mercer County College and eight with the Broncs.  

United Soccer Coaches is the world’s largest soccer coaches’ organization. Founded in 1941, it serves members at every level of the game.