Former Carroll coach Doug Mello to lead Glacier girls soccer program
Doug Mello officially retired from his men's soccer coaching duties at Carroll College in December 2022 after nine years at the helm and immediately began looking for somewhere to land near his new home in Eureka.
That was always the plan.
“After 45 years, I made a choice at the end of this past season that I’m gonna retire — but not from soccer, from the collegiate game,” Mello said. “I hoped that I would latch on with a club or find something that was compelling and would keep me in the game.”
He got a tip that Glacier High was searching for a girls soccer coach, so he applied for the position and the rest is history.
Glacier athletic director Mark Dennehy announced the hiring of Mello in an email Tuesday.
“Doug brings a wealth of experiences to the position as well as a passion for soccer that is infectious,” Dennehy said. “Doug has started programs throughout his career and is quite knowledgeable about program development. He is keenly aware of club programs in the valley and throughout the state and country and is well-versed at coaching all levels of student-athletes. We are excited to have Doug become a member of the Pack.”
As the first and only coach of the Carroll men’s team, founded in 2014, Mello accrued a 64-71-10 record and his teams qualified for the Cascade Collegiate Conference playoffs three times (2015, 2016, and 2018) and reached the Cascade Collegiate Conference semifinals twice (2016 and 2018).
Mello took his first coaching job in 1978 at the age of 20 at Aquinas College (Michigan), making him the youngest ever head coach at the college level. He brings with him a thick resume that includes the most collegiate matches coached (1,191) and is the only university coach with 400 men's wins and more than 275 women's wins.
“I've watched both the (Glacier) guys and the gals games,” Mello said. “Last year was a bit in flux, with a coaching change, injuries and they didn’t get the results they wanted.”
The Wolfpack girls finished with a 3-11 record last season but got 33 goals from All-state player Reagan Brisendine, tied for most in the state. Add to the mix Calista Wroble and Emmery Schmidt, who both scored eight goals, and a number of rising juniors, and things start to look sunnier for Glacier, who won its first AA state title in the fall of 2020.
“The nucleus of a good team is there, and my hope for the young ladies is to win a state title,” Mello said. “We’re jumping in with both feet.”
Going from the collegiate coaching scene to high school soccer is more of a pivot for Mello — not a step down.
“There are some advantages to moving to the high school realm,” Mello said. “I don’t look at this as any kind of step down. Coach soccer is coaching soccer. You’re doing the best with what you have, developing good chemistry, and taking wins and losses in stride.”
And not to mention, shorter bus trips.
As for the drive from Eureka to Kalispell: “As I said to the committee — I just got a new car for Christmas, and I’m happy to drive it,” Mello said.
Mello plans to meet with Glacier players in town next week. He is also helping with the search for his replacement and will help with the transition process for the new coach at Carroll.