University of Vermont Athletic Hall of Fame
John S. Koerner 1978 - Soccer
An offensive force for the men's soccer team for four seasons, John Koerner, a 1988 UVM Hall of Fame inductee established career scoring marks for the program that have not been touched since he played his last game in 1978.
As the team's premier striker, he scored 45 times during his career, the most goals scored, by far, by any Vermont soccer player in the history of the sport at UVM. He also assisted on 26 other goals, also a Vermont record. Koerner still holds all of UVM's scoring records for a season and career. He was, pure and simple, a scorer. Like fellow classmates and Hall of Famers, Carl Christensen and Geoff Greig, Koerner's exploits did not go unnoticed. Koerner was named to the All-Yankee Conference and All-New England teams for three years.
The Shelburne, Vt.-native and product of Champlain Valley Union High led the Yankee Conference in scoring for three seasons and was New England's leading scorer in 1975 (15 goals and eight assists, a UVM single-season record), the most points scored - up until that time - by a Yankee Conference player. He, Greig and Christensen - and a strong supporting cast - led the Catamount soccer team to a four-year mark of 39-13-4 and a Yankee Conference title in 1975. His teams also participated in two NCAA Tournaments.
Paul Reinhardt, Koerner's coach from 1975-77, had high praise for his talented scorer. "John's scoring skills were unmatched. A self-motivator, he had this casualness about him that lulled opponents to sleep. Just when you think John's out of the play, he suddenly is there to beat you. "His style was unique, but very, very effective. John took advantage of opportunities."
In 1975, Reinhardt's first year at the helm, the Catamounts finished the regular season 11-2 and were invited to the opening round of the NCAAs. Koerner and Christensen were outstanding in a heart-breaking 4-3 overtime loss at No. 1 Connecticut. After the season, Reinhardt was named national Division I Coach of the Year.
