Athletics Alumni Spotlight

Pat Snyder, Men's Soccer

 

 

Former MCCC men’s soccer player Pat Snyder has taken on a number of jobs in Athletics since his playing days at Mercer and most recently was named Athletic Director at Thrive Charter School (formerly Trenton Catholic Academy and McCorristin High School.)  Snyder transferred to MCCC from Ursinus College and played on the MCCC men’s soccer team in 1997.  Snyder also returned to coach the Mercer men’s soccer team twice, first as an Assistant Coach under Charlie Inverso from 2004-2006 and again in 2010 under Larry Povia.  In 2011, Snyder was named Head Coach of the Mercer men’s soccer program.

 

When asked his favorite memory from coaching or playing at MCCC, Snyder first discussed how MCCC is one big family.  Snyder was a teammate of current MCCC Head Men’s Soccer Coach Widmarc Dalce.  Snyder’s father, Patrick Snyder, and his uncle Tim Snyder, 1977 All-American, both played for Mercer. The current Boys’ Soccer Coach at Thrive Charter, Ruben Morales, played for Snyder at MCCC in 2011 and the Assistant Boys’ Coach at Thrive is current MCCC Assistant Coach John Pietrowski’s (Coach Pize) nephew.

 

Snyder’s favorite memories from coaching were ”being named Head Coach for the college I attended and played at was a big honor and winning the 2004 National Championship as an Assistant Coach was very special.”  Snyder’s favorite memory as a player was “when we beat Essex (MD) in the District Final to earn our spot in the National Tournament. We were losing 3-2 in the first half. We wound up winning 12-3 after one of our leaders, current MCCC Coach Dalce, got hurt and the team rallied around him.”

     

Snyder discussed how he ended up as the Athletic Director at Thrive Charter School.  “Four years ago I was working in sales and wanted to get into teaching. With some luck TCPA (Trenton Catholic Prep Academy) was looking for an elementary school PE teacher and I was able get the job. Each year I've been here I have added a responsibilities. My second year I was K-8 PE teacher, Disciplinarian and High School Boys Soccer coach. Last year, when Marty Flynn retired I added Athletic Director to my plate. It was quite a bit of work, but really had fun wearing all of those hats. This year as the conversion to a charter school went through I am able to focus on being Athletic Director and work to bulster the Thrive Athletic Department.

 

Snyder described his favorite part of the Athletic Director job “The best part of the job is watching our student athletes compete. The success that these young men and women have had on and off the court/field is inspiring.  The biggest challenge is not coaching. It feels weird at times not having any influence on the game or match that I am there watching. I just do everything I can to make the experience for the student athletes as best as it can be.” 

 

Snyder’s playing and coaching experience at MCCC and now job as Athletic Director at Thrive Charter School show how Mercer is still one big family, full of connections, especially in soccer and athletics.

 

To read more Alumni Athlete Sucess stories, visit: https://www.mccc.edu/athletics_alumni.shtml