Charlie Inverso, who built New Jersey's Mercer County Community College into a JC national powerhouse, has resigned after 24 years as head coach.
The middle school teacher had held the part-time job as Mercer County coach since 1986, winning five national title in three different decades.
Inverso (434-46-14 record) sent more than
150 players on to four-year schools, including 2009 stars
Ido Legity (St. John's) and
Amit Aburmad (Boston
College).
Perhaps his most famous product is
Stern John, who starred in MLS with the Columbus Crew and represented Trinidad & Tobago at the 2006
World Cup.
"I needed a change, it's as simple as that," Inverso
said. "I have been coaching for 24 years
on a part-time basis competing against the best teams in the country."
Inverso, who has been active in the national youth team program, won an ESPN contest for his
Dick Vitale impersonation at the college basketball Final Four.