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A name synonymous with soccer in Mercer County, Charlie Inverso has been named the new head coach of the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø men's soccer team.

"After a national search that attracted a quality pool of candidates it became increasingly apparent that the best fit for us was the guy who does not have to change addresses in accepting the job," said ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø Director of Athletics Don Harnum.

Inverso comes to ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø from Rutgers University, where he served as an assistant coach last season.

"I am really thankful to the search committee and Don Harnum for having the confidence in me to take over the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø soccer program," said Inverso. "I am really looking forward to meeting with the players and working towards moving this program forward."

Inverso was the longtime head coach at Mercer County Community College (MCCC) where he compiled a 434-46-14 record en route to winning five national championships. MCCC won the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I title in 1988, 91, 95, 96 and 2004. He took 18 squads to the national tournament, including a run of eight-straight seasons from 2001-08.

"Charlie Inverso is a proven winner and has established a great reputation in the local, regional, and national soccer communities," Harnum added. "I am confident his numerous successful coaching experiences and his extensive contacts in recruiting will be major benefits for the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø men's soccer program."

Four times Inverso was the National Junior College Athletic Association Coach of the Year and he was inducted into NJCAA Hall of Fame in 2006.

During his 24-year tenure at the helm of the MCCC program, Inverso's former players have enjoyed impressive success. Nearly 170 of his former players have graduated from MCCC and gone on to play soccer at their transfer schools. Over 40 former players have become college or high school coaches and 16 former players have played professionally.

Prior to MCCC, Inverso was an assistant coach at Princeton University from 1980-85. He serves as goalkeeper coach for the Under-15 U.S. National soccer team. He is co-founder of Mooch Soccer, a program that brings soccer to inner city youths of Trenton.

As a player, Inverso was the goalkeeper of the 1974 Notre Dame High School (Lawrence, N.J.) Parochial 'A' state championship squad and went on to be a standout player and captain at Trenton State College (TCNJ), where he earned BS and MS degrees in Physical Education.

Inverso and his wife, Lynne, live in Robbinsville, N.J., with their daughter, Hailey, and son, C.J.  "There are many people that I want to express appreciation to particularly my wife Lynne for her support and to Dan Donigan for the opportunity to work under him at Rutgers," Inverso said.

Inverso replaces Russ Fager, who was the Bronc head coach from 1975 until retiring after the 2010 season.  "I also want to thank Coach Fager for his many years of dedication to ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø Soccer," Inverso said.