FARMINGTON, Maine - Mike Berticelli, a 1973 graduate of the University of Maine at Farmington and a member of the 1999 UMF Athletics Hall of Fame class, is set to be inducted into the United Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame Class of 2025. Berticelli, who tragically passed away in 2000, will be inducted posthumously.

Berticelli will be inducted alongside John Daly, the long-time women's soccer coach at the College of William and Mary, and Glenn Myernick, one of two U.S. coaches to both play for and later coach the U.S. National Team and the U.S. Olympic Team.

A native of Lewiston, Maine, Berticelli was a member of the men's soccer and basketball teams during his time at UMF. He graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in English and later earned a Master's Degree from the University of Maine at Orono in 1976.

Berticelli began his coaching career at Thomas College, where he served as head men's soccer coach for four seasons. During that time, he compiled a record of 41-19-2 and was named the NAIA New England Coach of the Year in 1977.

In 1980, Berticelli took over as head men's soccer coach at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). Over four seasons, he achieved an impressive record of 70-9-5 and led the Spartans to back-to-back NCAA Division III National Championships in 1982 and 1983.

After his success at UNCG, Berticelli became the head coach at NCAA Division I Old Dominion University in 1984. Over six seasons, he led the Monarchs to a record of 76-27-16, three conference championships, and the program's first-ever NCAA Division I tournament appearance in 1989.

Berticelli's next role was as head coach at the University of Notre Dame, where he served for ten seasons. During his tenure, he led the Fighting Irish to a 104-80-19 record and three NCAA tournament appearances in 1993, 1994, and 1996. His 1996 team achieved one of the most successful seasons in program history, winning the Big East Championship and securing the program's first NCAA tournament victory, which came against his former team, second-ranked UNCG.

In addition to his coaching achievements, Berticelli was a passionate advocate for coaching education. He served as the Director of Coaching Education for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and was a member of the NSCAA Board of Directors. He also played a key role in creating the United Soccer Coaches Award for Excellence in Coaching Education, an award that has since been renamed in his honor. 

During his soccer playing days at UMF, Berticelli was coached by head coach Roy Gordon, a renowned soccer coach around the country. Gordon served as NSCAA president in 1998 and has since had a United Soccer Coaches Foundation Fund named in his honor. Gordon had this to say of Berticelli, "I have taken great pride in watching Mike become one of the leaders of the soccer community across the United States". Berticelli was on track to become the president of the NSCAA in 2002.

Berticelli remained a steadfast supporter of the University of Maine at Farmington, its athletic department, and the men's soccer team throughout his career. "Mike was a great recruiter and a salesman of the game. As he moved from small Division III programs to top Division I programs such as Notre Dame, he never forgot his local roots," said longtime UMF men's soccer head coach Bob Leid.

Berticelli, Daly, and Myernick will become the 83rd, 84th, and 85th inductees into the United Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame. Established in 1991, the Hall of Fame honors the achievements of coaches in their careers, their contributions to the association, and their impact on the game of soccer.