Men’s Soccer player Julien Melendez is a leader for his team on and off the field. In the 2014 season he was named the Bay Valley Conference Offensive MVP with 11 goals and seven assists in 13 games in route to a team playoff appearance. Melendez is returning for his sophomore season to continue a well-traveled soccer career.
A four year varsity member of the Tam High Men’s Soccer team, Melendez enjoyed a plethora of opportunities at four year Universities, but opted for a different path out of high school. “I had a few options to go to Davis, Dominican, and my coach wanted me to play Division II. I snubbed all those opportunities to play in Europe,” said Melendez.
Melendez enjoyed several separate spells playing professionally in Spain and Italy. In the 2013-2014 season he played for Alcorcon in the Spanish 3rd Division. The club won promotion to the 2nd division, but Julien was injured and unable to continue on with the team. This spring, Melendez attended College of Marin online while playing and coaching in Austria. For Melendez, “Going to Europe and playing Division 3 soccer in Austria, Division 2 in Spain and Division 2 in Italy, it’s a great experience for me, but my career is in coaching and training.
Despite the opportunity to continue playing in Europe, Melendez opted to return to College of Marin for his second season with the Mariners. The business of lower tier soccer in Europe was not to Julien’s liking. “One of my team’s hadn’t paid their players in eight months. I didn’t like the corruption around the teams.” By returning to College of Marin “I know I can keep my academics and athletics skills together.” With an eye on a coaching career, Melendez is relishing the opportunity to be both a player and coach this fall. Julien was named captain of the 2015 College of Marin Men’s Soccer team, a role he relishes where he enhance his playing and leadership skills. In addition he is also coaching youth programs for Marin FC.
The College Of Marin team will have a different feel this year, with a few key returners but also a new coaching staff. Chris King, the College of Marin Women’s Coach was promoted to Director of Soccer and Bobby Quinlan was added as the Head Coach of the Men’s team. The two will work in conjunction and help coach both the men’s and women’s programs.
In addition to Melendez, other key returners include Sebastian Sanchez, and Devon Miller-Gowan. Newcomers Nick Silva and Marvin Busch, are both locals who are familiar playing with and against Melendez in Marin County. On this year’s team “This year it’s gonna be much easier to gel as a unit, everyone wants to be on the same page.” The coaches “Bobby and Chris want to push us to go to a four year college. Anyone this year can play at least at a Division 3 [school] and get some kind of scholarship.”
The 2015 soccer season kicks off on September 1st and Cañada College.