By By Austin Bishop/EMG regional sports director
Feb. 1, 2002
Steve Clements, the only coach the national power Meridian Community College soccer program has ever known, has resigned.
Clements, who posted a 144-35-3 record in eight seasons at the school, turned in his resignation to MCC athletic director Hilary Allen on Thursday morning. He will take over the men's soccer program at Tyler (Texas) Junior College, MCC's arch-rival in the sport, on Feb. 18.
Meridian and Tyler have played 19 matches in soccer, with Meridian winning 11 of them. In fact, Tyler was the first team MCC ever played, dropping that match 3-2 on Sept. 10, 1994.
It was at Tyler's field that MCC enjoyed its high point, winning the 2000 NJCAA National Championship.
Before coming to MCC, Clements was the head soccer coach at Meridian High School.
The MCC soccer program has never had a losing season under Clements and has won the Region 23 Tournament all eight years of the existence of the program. The Eagles have been to the NJCAA National Tournament four of the past five years, including last season.
In fact, in each of the last eight years either Tyler or Meridian has represented the district in the National Tournament.
Texas has several strong soccer programs, including Richland in the Dallas area and San Jacinto near Houston.
While Tyler won four of the first five matches against MCC, the Eagles have won the last seven.
No matter what success he has leading the Apaches' program, Clements said he will not forget his days at MCC.
Clements career record at MCC is 144-35-3, a career winning percentage of .804.
His National Championship squad of 2000 went 24-1, while the 1997 team was 22-3-1.