On Saturday, the late Glenn "Mooch" Myernick will be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. Myernick, who passed away in 2006, will be the first NASL Portland Timbers player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
While Myernick is most known nationally as a former U.S. National team assistant coach and player, he spent three seasons with the Portland Timbers in the NASL days. Myernick played 60 matches for the club from 1980 to 1982.
Myernick's journey to Portland began in December 1979, when the Timbers acquired the former Hermann Trophy winner from the Dallas Tornado in exchange for cash and a switch in draft position. The Trenton, New Jersey native played three seasons in Dallas after being the No.1 pick in the NASL college draft prior to the 1977 season. He also played ten matches for the U.S. National team and competed in the 1976 Olympics.
Playing right back, Myernick was penciled in as a starter for the 1980 season on a backline that included Clive Charles. Just five games in, however, the defender suffered a knee injury that required surgery and forced him to miss the bulk of the year.
Injuries again played a factor early in the 1981 season as Myernick was sidelined due to a groin injury sustained during the indoor season. After returning to the field for a friendly against West Bromwich Albion in May, the fullback ended up playing 19 matches for Portland and had five assists for the season.
In the final season of the NASL Timbers, Myernick had his best year, playing a career high 31 matches while starting at fullback. Myernick's five assists, staunch defense and his consistency led him to be voted team MVP and team Player of the Year in the 1982 season. He was also named to the NASL's North American All-Star second team for non-foreign players in the league.
Myernick's playing days weren't his only connection to Portland-area soccer. After attending a few practices as a volunteer assistant at Tigard High School in the fall of 1981, Myernick became the head coach of Tigard's soccer teams near the conclusion of the 1982 Timbers season.
Tigard High School was the first coaching stop in a managerial career that went on to include two FIFA World Cups as an assistant, a CONCACAF Gold Cup final where he served as manager, and head coaching stints with the Colorado Rapids, the U.S. U-17 and U.S. U-23 national teams. In his first season with the Rapids, Myernick led the club to the MLS Cup final.
In 2006, Myernick passed away at the age of 51 after suffering a heart attack. The former Timbers defender will be inducted along with Sigi Schmid and Kasey Keller, who played for the Timbers in the Western Soccer League in 1989.
