Travis Berger, Head Coach
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Coach Berger
Travis Berger began his tenure at Alvernia as an assistant coach in 2001 and has been the head coach since the fall of 2002. Berger has compiled a 41-45-10 record during his reign as head coach, and the 2006 season saw Berger take the Men's Soccer program to new heights. The Crusaders finished with their first ever overall winning record at 11-6-4, earned their way to the PAC Final for the first time, and completed their season with their first ECAC Championship birth. Not only was Alvernia honored for the first time with a PAC Player of the Year, and NSCAA All-Region Honoree, but Berger was also recognized as the PAC Coach of the Year for 2006.
Berger guided the 2005 Crusaders to a historic season. The Maroon and Gold earned the first conference winning record (6-3) in program history and they secured a spot in the conference semi-finals for the first time in program history. Berger lead his young squad, with six freshmen starters and no seniors, into the PAC semifinals versus the # 9 team in the Nation, Eastern University, and took a 1-1 tie to PK’s, eventually succumbing 3-1 in the PK shootout.
In 2004, with only his second recruiting class, Berger wanted to challenge his young squad, so his non-conference schedule was filled with nationally and regionally ranked opponents. The young Crusaders met the challenge and posted a record of 8-9-1, 3-5 PAC. Most notably, with one game remaining, the Crusaders were looking to earn their first ever winning season, but Wesley College dashed their hopes with a free kick in the last 10 minutes of play to win 1-0.
In 2003, Berger had his first recruiting class and was able to lead his team to a 7-9-2 overall record, while dramatically improving his PAC record to 4-4. His extremely young team fought hard trying to make their first ever PAC tournament appearance, but they fell short when they lost a dramatic 1-0 game to conference opponent Arcadia.
In 2002, he took over a program that went 5-12-2 and 2-6 in the PAC in 2001. With an extremely competitive schedule, Berger was able to guide the Crusaders to an 8-11-1 overall record, 3-4-1 in the PAC, during his first season in 2002. He guided the Crusaders to their first ever victory over a nationally ranked opponent by defeating McCallester (#16) 1-0.
Berger coached for three years for E.P.Y.S.A. of the Olympic Development Program. He was able to help guide the U-15 Boys program to the National Final Four in Las Vegas in 2004. He is a sought after clinician who prides himself on ensuring that local youth master the fundamentals and basics of the game of soccer.
As a player, Berger played professionally for the Reading Rage for one season. He played collegiate soccer for Penn State University, helping the Lions to the Big Ten Championship his freshman year, 1993. He went on to earn Big Ten 1st team honors, Academic All-American status, lead the Big Ten in goal scoring his junior year (15 goals), and was honored to earn the title as team captain his senior year. Berger was an All-American at Wilson High School, leading his team to the State Championship his senior year. Berger was elected into the Wilson Hall of Fame in 2003, the first year he was eligible.
