The following is the resignation speech from Newt Merricks of North Myrtle Beach HS who is stepping down as coach of the Chiefs after more than two decades in the game. I asked Newt's permission to publish this excerpt which is in my opinion, AWESOME! We wish Newt the very best away from the pitch! He's one of the classiest guys in the game!
It is hard to believe I just turned 50 years old, 12 days ago, Thank you to everyone for making it such a special day. A little over 23 years ago when I was 27 years old I started the soccer program at North Myrtle Beach high school, we played over off of 2nd ave in NMB, where the aquatics center now stands, I coached the team for 10 years then I retired, or so I thought for 3 years. Then I came back in order to coach my sons. And I have coached for the past 10 years.
As far as soccer goes I don’t feel I am the most knowledgeable coach out there, growing up I never had a coach with any technical or tactical knowledge from club thru college everything I ever learned I learned from playing or working hard on my own. The one thing I do feel I have always brought to my coaching is my love for the game. My strength was the ability to take an average player and make him able to do things that he or she never thought they could do, and to play with passion and leave their hearts and their souls on the field. I feel I no longer have the ability nor the desire to bring out this passion in my players. So that lets me know that to be fair to my players and myself it is time for me to move on. I have spent ½ of my life trying to help everyone’s kids except for my own. I feel it is time for me to focus on my family. I am not sad about leaving I have seen many of my players go on to do some great things. Most of the best days of my life have been spent on the soccer field and that part I will miss.
I would like to say a special Thank you, to the NMBHS Faculty and Staff along with Coach Quigley and Keeter Hayes for all of their support over the years. Along with the booster club, they are all a huge part of our success. To Lori and the girls and to my Co-Coach Jason Mueller thanks for sharing the ride with me. To my wife for being a soccer widow for all of these years and for putting up with my Giant Mood Swings when ever I am around. And to the parents that supported me,that believed in me and trusted me, even when I didn’t treat their child the way they would have wanted, they knew I did it for their best interest and the interest of the team. You know who you are and I thank you. But most importantly I want to thank all of my players for letting me share in helping shape their lives and dreams. I hope I helped in some way.
For some of you and your parents you need to really look inside and decide how important soccer is to you, it is not enough to just really want it, if that’s all it took then I would have 20 state championships by now, or even better I would be rich and playing soccer in the Premier League. It takes a willingness to take and accept criticism from coaches, it takes hard work on your own, it takes guts and having no fear, no fear to win a ball, take a shot or stretch your body out to stop a shot, or even making a fool of yourself trying to make yourself better. If you don’t have all four of these, you will never make it to the next level.
To the rest of you that play, just to have fun that is great too, for you soccer is just a game, but remember it is a game that teaches about having and setting goals, passion, commitment, dedication, selflessness and sacrifice to others. All important qualities to help you live a fulfilling and gratifying life. To all of you I wish Good Luck next year, good luck with the new coach, support him, believe in him, trust him and bring home a State Championship, I am leaving a great team with unbelievable potential, just reach that potential on the field and in life, And to everyone here, thanks for the memories.
