Doug Mello

Doug Mello is an American soccer coach who holds the record for the most collegiate matches coached (1,191). He is the only university coach to achieve 350 men's wins coupled with 250 women's wins and maintains the unique honor of having been the youngest head coach hired in the history of USA collegiate sports. Mello is a recipient of the NSCAA Letter of Commendation, which is bestowed upon a select few individuals recognized for bringing honor and distinction to the advancement of United States soccer on and off the pitch. Over 60 of his former players have given back to the game in various collegiate coaching positions. He holds the NCAA Division III record for most consecutive conference wins (42) with his former squad, Luther College. In his first season as a professional coach in 1995, Mello was awarded Co-Coach Of The Year honors while at the helm of the Des Moines Menace of the USISL Premier League.

Currently, Coach Mello is the head coach of the newly formed men's soccer team at Carroll College in Helena, MT.

Coaching Career

Aquinas College

In the autumn of 1978, Mello began his coaching career as the youngest head coach in the history of collegiate sports. At the age of 20, and still a senior in college, he was hired by his future alma mater Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI. Following a successful playing career at Aquinas where he earned All-conference honors, Mello turned a losing program into NAIA District 23 champions. The win earned Aquinas a berth to the NAIA regional tournament.

Siena Heights University

In 1983, Mello accepted the task of being the first soccer coach for the men's and, two years later, the women's programs at Siena Heights University in Adrian, MI. At Siena Heights, Mello enjoyed immediate success. In their first year, the men's team was regionally ranked. Shortly thereafter, the squad made the national tournament in Spartanburg, SC after winning both the District and Regional tournaments.

Two years after starting the men's team, Mello also started up the women's program at Siena Heights. Again, his team was immediately successful. In their first year, the women's team was ranked in the top 10 nationally for NAIA schools. By the 3rd year, the squad was ranked #1 in the nation throughout a regular season which saw them defeat NCAA Division I foes Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State, Wright State and Dayton. The team entered the NAIA national tournament with a 23-1 record. Despite playing without five starters who suffered season ending injuries in the lead-up to nationals, the Saints managed to complete the season as the 3rd best NAIA team in the country after defeating Berry College.

While Mello was at Siena Heights, both programs produced numerous All-Americans. For his role, Mello was named District Coach of the Year a combined five times, and Regional Coach of the Year a combined three times. Mello compiled an 81-35-12 record with the men and 53-10-6 with the women.

In 2002, Siena Heights University inducted Mello into its Hall of Fame.

University of the Southwest

In 1989, Mello spent a single season at University of the Southwest in Hobbs, NM, before moving to Luther College in Decorah, IA. His lone season at University of the Southwest was a solid one. He led the men's team to the district finals while also leading the women's team to the district championship trophy.

Luther College

From 1990-2007, Mello was the head coach of men's and women's programs at Luther College in Decorah, IA. Mello, in a familiar role, pioneered both programs as the first head coach of each.

During his 18 years at Luther, Mello led the Norse women to three Iowa Conference championships and an overall record of 219-120-26. The women never missed the Iowa Conference postseason tournament, producing a league record of 76-19-5. He coached 56 all-conference performers, including five league MVPs.

His men's teams won six IIAC titles and made five NCAA Division III National Tournament appearances, reaching the Elite 8 in 1996 and 2001. His 1996 team won the Far West Region championship, and the 2001 squad captured the Central Region title, making Luther the only school to be crowned champions of two different regional tournaments. During his tenure, the Norse posted an overall record of 240-119-13 and a league record of 80-19-2, and never missed qualifying for the IIAC postseason tournament. Luther still holds the NCAA Division III record for consecutive conference wins with 42. Fifty-seven student-athletes were named all-conference, and six were selected league MVPs.

Hendrix College

Mello ignited a new era of Hendrix soccer in 2008 as the Warriors had improved in leaps and bounds since his arrival. In his first year with the Warriors, Mello led the team to a 5-12 record. In his second season, he led the team to an outstanding 9-8-2 record and secured the team its first winning season in 15 years. The Warriors made a big jump from last in the 2007 SCAC standings to 5th place in the 2009 SCAC standings. In 2010, the Warriors went 8-8-1. In 2012, the Warriors won a school-record 10 games and recorded another program-best eight shutouts, going 10-6-3 on the season.

It was during his time at Hendrix College in Conway, AR that Mello reached yet another milestone in his coaching career. In 2013, Mello received NSCAA Letter of Commendation for winning his 700th career game. Mello is the only coach to reach 350 men's and 250 women's victories at the collegiate level.

Coach Mello was bestowed with this unique honor presented 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 that 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.

Carroll College

Mello resigned from Hendrix College upon being offered the opportunity to be the first coach of the Carroll College Fighting Saints men's soccer team. Already having a cabin in Montana, being an avid fly fisherman and recognizing the special opportunity Carroll College offered him were primary factors in his decision. In his first year at the helm of the Saints, Mello led Carroll to a 6-11-1 record. A year and an additional recruiting class later, the Saints flipped the wins and losses and ended the season at 11-6-2. That win-loss-tie record saw the Saints finish 5th place in the 14 team Cascade Conference and earned them a trip to the newly formed conference's postseason tournament.

Professional Coaching Career

In addition to his collegiate duties, Mello also served as head coach of the Des Moines Menace during the 1995 USISL Premier League season. He was co-Coach of the Year with fellow Menace head coach Blair Reid. They took the Menace to the Sizzlin’ Four Tournament where they finished fourth. In 1996, Mello was sole head coach of the Sioux City Breeze. In 1997 and 1998, he moved indoors with the Tallahassee Scorpions of the Eastern Indoor Soccer League.

Coaching Tutelage

At present, over 60 of Coach Mello's former players have given back to the game in the form of coaching at the collegiate level. Additionally, many of his former players have served as high school and club coaches. Specially, two of his former players, Miriam Kronienberg Hickey and Michael Kim, have represented their respected countries as national team coaches. Kronienberg Hickey was a women's national team coach for the Netherlands. Kim was a men's national team coach for South Korea.

Family

Mello's wife, Gina, is the lead teacher at Pre-Schools Inc. in Helena. His son, DJ, is currently completing his Master's degree in Archaeology at the University of the Philippines while playing pro football for the Manila Wolves. His daughter, Marissa, is attending school in Iowa City where she enjoys swimming and horseback riding.