EUGENE, Ore.—Erica Mertz is stepping down after five seasons as the Lane Community College women’s soccer head coach.
During her five years at the helm of the Titan program, Mertz earned a 66-18-12 overall record and led her team to five consecutive Northwest Athletic Conference playoff appearances. The Titans captured two Southern Region championships; three region runner-up finishes; and made four appearances in the NWAC quarterfinals, including a 2014 trip to the Final Four. Mertz was named the Southern Region Coach of the Year for her team’s efforts this season. She also received that honor in 2015.
Over her five-year span at Lane, the Titans had 26 players named NWAC All-Stars, highlighted by earning the Southern Region Most Valuable Player awards in three of those years.
In addition to their success on the field, the Titans excelled in the classroom, earning NWAC Academic Excellence Awards and consistently earning one of the highest GPAs among athletic teams on campus at Lane. The Titans completed degrees and transferred to four-year schools consistently under Mertz throughout her tenure.
“I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to be a Titan,” said Mertz. “I will cherish all of the relationships I was able to build while at Lane with my coaching staff, support staff and most importantly the outstanding student-athletes I was able to work with. The Titan athletic family is something special.”
“I want to thank Erica for her dedication to the Lane Women’s Soccer program,” said Athletics Director Greg Sheley. Her outstanding leadership was the driving force behind her team’s success on the field of play and in the classroom. She will be greatly missed.”
A search for the Titans new head coach will begin immediately.
For more information about Lane Community College:
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Lane Community College educates over 25,000 students annually at six locations across Lane County and online. Students and alumni from all 50 states and 79 countries create more than an $850 million dollar impact on the local economy, helping to support more than 13,000 local jobs. Lane provides affordable, quality, professional technical and college transfer programs; business development and employee training; academic, language and life skills development; and lifelong personal development and enrichment courses.