Mutschler Announces Retirement

Jock Mutschler, long-standing boys’ varsity soccer coach, has announced his retirement from coaching at USM. Mutschler served as the USM varsity boys’ coach since 2012, and he also coached the USM varsity girls’ team for five years starting in 2013. Mutschler played on the boys’ soccer team at the University of Notre Dame, serving as a captain his senior year. He earned a master’s degree in coaching from Ohio University, and was named coach of the year by the Milwaukee Kickers Soccer Club in 2011. He led the USM boys’ varsity soccer team to state championships in 2013 and 2018, and numerous conference championships.

Mutschler excelled as a coach and was passionate about educating himself to improve. In 2022, he attained his United States Soccer Federation (USSF) B National Coaching License. Through the training, he gained a better understanding of how players interact on the field and their style of play. “As a high school coach, I’m constantly thinking tactically about how to utilize the talent that I have, which changes from year to year,” said Mutschler. “The course really broadened my ability to recognize different tactical opportunities or options.”

His visionary leadership included skills and lessons his players can use off the field, too. “Coach Mutschler didn’t just train us to win games; he prepared us for life,” said former player Ali Mortada ’22. “The lessons I learned on that field about resilience, hard work, and the importance of team culture still guide me today. He left a lasting mark on us all, and I’m honored to have been a part of his incredible legacy at USM.”

In 2019, Jock and his wife, Linda, established the Mutschler Endowed Fund in support of USM coaches, to help the school invest in the right individuals to build successful athletic programs. “We wanted to invest in USM, an organization that believes in high-quality education, because we wanted to help facilitate hiring and retaining high-quality coaches,” he said. “Coaches have a huge impact. It’s really critical that our coach mentality matches our teacher mentality because we want to maximize the potential of all students.”