Submitted by: Dan Rich

Michael A. Berticelli

April 26, 1951 - Jan. 25, 2000

South Bend Tribune 1/27/2000

Michael A. Berticelli, 48, of Granger, Ind., died suddenly in his home at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 25, of an apparent heart-related ailment. He was born on April 26, 1951, in Lewiston, Maine.

He is survived by his wife, Cinda Berticelli; two sons, Nino Berticelli of South Bend, Ind., and Anthony Berticelli, a student at the University of Notre Dame; his parents, Albert and Lorraine Berticelli of Old Orchard Beach, Maine; and by a sister, Nancy Rodrigue of Saco, Maine.

Berticelli spent the last 10 years as head men's soccer coach at the University of Notre Dame. He had previously spent six years as head men's soccer coach at Old Dominion, four years as head men's soccer coach at North Carolina-Greensboro, and four years as head men's soccer coach at Thomas College in Waterville, Maine. Three of his Notre Dame teams participated in the NCAA Tournament in 1993, 1994 and 1996. The 1996 squad advanced to the second round after a 1-0 upset of second-rated North Carolina-Greensboro that marked Notre Dame's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory in men's soccer and keynoted the most successful season in the history of Notre Dame men's soccer.

Berticelli's Notre Dame team won the BIG EAST Tournament in 1996 in only the second season in the conference for Notre Dame. His Notre Dame teams previously claimed back-to-back Midwestern Collegiate Conference crowns in 1993 and 1994. His Notre Dame team in 1995 was ranked as high as sixth, and his 1996 squad finished 17th in the final Soccer America poll.

His 24-year career coaching record was 291-135-42, including a 104-80-19 mark in his 10 seasons at Notre Dame. His 100th victory at Notre Dame came in a Sept. 29, 1999, win over Eastern Michigan. He received coach-of-the-year honors in 10 different seasons, including 1982 when he was named NCAA Division III coach of the year. He coached 11 players who earned All-America honors during those 24 seasons, and 20 of his former players have gone on to the professional ranks.

At North Carolina-Greensboro, he coached his 1982 and 1983 teams to NCAA Division III national championships. He has been actively involved with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, as well as with youth soccer both in the South Bend area and nationally. He was a 1973 graduate of the University of Maine-Farmington, with a degree in English. He earned a master's degree in physical education from the University of Maine-Orono in 1976. He is a member of the University of Maine-Farmington Sports Hall of Fame, and has received two different awards from the Maine Sports Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today, Jan. 27, in the McGann Funeral Home, University Chapel, 2313 E. Edison Road, South Bend. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 28, in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Mike Berticelli Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o the Athletic Department, University of Notre Dame, 112 Joyce Center, Notre Dame, IN 46556.