Courtesy Hendrix College Athletics Department
INDIANAPOLIS – Hendrix College head men’s soccer coach Doug Mello received a Letter of Commendation for earning his 700th career win by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America at the annual national convention in Indianapolis on Friday.
Mello was bestowed with this unique honor for unusual achievements that clearly exceed performance requirements, expectations or contributions to the NSCAA or soccer in the United States. The Letter of Commendation states that he has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to soccer achievement that has brought honor and distinction to the sport, and has upheld the highest values of character through demonstration of sporting behavior.
Past recipients of the Letter of Commendation include: Mia Hamm, two-time World Cup winner, four-time NCAA champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist; Anson Dorrance, North Carolina and U.S. Women’s National Team coach, 22-time NCAA champion and 1991 Women’s World Cup Champion; Bob Bradley, former U.S. Men’s National Team coach; the 2002 Men’s National Team who qualified for the World Cup in South Korea/Japan; the 2008 U.S. Women’s National Team that won the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics.
With 36 years in men’s and 25 years with women’s head coaching experience, Mello has racked up 707 career wins, including 39 while at the helm of the Warriors. He has coached 1,141 contests, the most in collegiate soccer history. Mello has also coached at Luther College, University of the Southwest, Siena Heights University and his alma mater Aquinas College.
He is the only coach in collegiate history to reach the 300 men’s and 250 women’s victories milestone. Mello and Dorrance are the only two coaches in all of college soccer to reach 700 wins in their career.
Presently, Mello is ranked 15th among active men’s coaches in career wins with 425. He also has 282 victories as a women’s head coach.
This past season, Mello’s Warriors set new school records with 10 wins and eight shutouts.