Jan. 12, 2004

Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina men’s soccer coach Mark Berson is one of four college soccer coaches in the United States to be selected by Major League Soccer to manage a squad at the 2004 adidas MLS Player Combine from Sunday, Jan. 11 to Tuesday, Jan. 13 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

Many of the top college and Project-40 prospects for the 2004 MLS SuperDraft, including Carolina midfielder Jack Cummings, have convened at the combine. For the first time ever, collegiate coaches are managing the squads during the course of the three-day program.

Under the leadership of Coach Mark Berson, South Carolina continues to show why it is one of the nation’s premier soccer programs. Coach Berson has led the Gamecocks to the NCAA Tournament 16 times in 26 years as USC’s coach, including six straight times from 1985-90 and in 15 of the last 20 seasons. In 1998, Berson earned the inaugural Independent Coach of the Year award after leading Carolina to the best record of all Independent schools. Berson has also been honored as the National Soccer Coaches Association/Metropolitan Life “Coach of the Year” in the South on four occasions (1984, 1985, 1988, 1995).