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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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June
1, 2004 |
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John Mello
Named Head Men’s Soccer Coach at Rhode Island College |
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Providence, RI—John Mello
has been named the head men’s soccer coach at Rhode Island College.
Mello takes over for Len Mercurio who stepped down last month.
Mello had served as an assistant coach under Mercurio in 2001 and
2002. |
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“I am
excited about returning to Rhode Island College,” Mello says. “Coach
Mercurio has done a great job and I want to improve upon the success
he’s had. I am looking forward to the upcoming season.” |
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Mello has
coached the Northern Lightning Premier Soccer Club for the past four
years and won the State Championship two out of the past four seasons.
He was previously the head varsity boys’ soccer coach at Shea High
School from 1997-00. During Mello’s tenure, the Raiders made it to the
semi-finals of the Division II Rhode Island State Championships three
times. Shea made it to the Rhode Island State finals in 1998, falling
to Pilgrim High School. Mello was also the head varsity boys’ soccer
coach at Seekonk High School from 1994-96. He inherited a program that
was 0-18 in 1993 and built it into a respectable program. |
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As a
player, Mello starred at the University of Maine as a forward from
1987-90. He was All-New England as a senior in 1990 and also a NEISL
All-Star. He held the Black Bears single-season record for goals with
12 at the time of his graduation. He went on to play with the Rhode
Island Stingrays of the United States Inter-Regional Soccer League (USISL)
and with the Academica Soccer Club of the Luso American Soccer
Association (LASA) League. Mello won two LASA League Championships
with the Academica Soccer Club. |
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He earned
his bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of
Maine in 1991. He is originally from Bristol, Rhode Island and
graduated from La Salle Academy in 1987. He was a four-time First Team
All-Division selection, a two-time All-State selection and was All-New
England as a senior in 1986. |
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He is
single and resides in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The Anchormen open the
2004 season at Clark on Sept. 4. |
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-end- |