Dustin Pridmore was strolling across campus the cold day last Jan. 25 when a teammate delivered the news.

Justin Detter sat at his best friend's house, watching the words slowly flash across the bottom of the screen as ESPN broke the story.

Chris Apple was opening the door after walking his dog when he found out.

Mike Berticelli, the head coach who led Notre Dame Soccer to three of Notre Dame's four NCAA tournament appearances, had passed away suddenly at age 48.

"My initial reaction was I just couldn't believe it.," said Pridmore, currently a senior co-captain, "I'd never experienced anything like it. I was in pure shock, I didn't know what to do, it was just disbelief."

Detter, now a freshman, had just recently committed to playing for the Irish after being recruited by Berticelli. "It was a big shock," said Detter, "I only met him twice but it already felt like he was a part of my family."

Apple had served as an assistant coach under Berticelli for four seasons, with barely a day passing when the two men didn't see one another. Eight months later, the energetic 30-year-old succeeding his mentor is still emotional when talking about Berticelli.

"I lost a best friend, a mentor and somebody I worked with each day for four years.," said Apple, "It took every ounce of courage and strength from the team and I to keep things going and learn things from it. It's one of those things where you ask why and there is no answer."

The support after the tragedy was overwhelming. Phone calls, letters, flowers, and e-mails poured into the soccer office from former players, community members, and many others that Berticelli touched during his 23-year coaching career, which also included stops at Thomas College in his native Maine, UNC-Greensboro and Old Dominion.

"For his funeral the Basilica was standing room only," said Apple. "It was just an amazing outpouring of love honoring a great man."

The administration acted quickly in naming Apple the new head coach. For the young, team reacting to such tragedy, getting back to the game was anything but usual.

"It felt really weird, really odd to look over and not see him standing there and not hearing him saying anything.," said Pridmore, "It was really different... I always expected him to walk up eventually."

Gradually, however, the team adjusted. Apple feels that working through the tragedy brought the young men closer.

"Nothing was done alone throughout that entire time. And that's kind of carried over," said Apple. "I feel that this fall we're more together and working as one rather than a bunch of individuals than ever before."

"The whole family comes together to support one another and the entire family at the end of that experience has reached a higher understanding."

The Legacy

Berticelli's influence reached far past the games and practices. He was a father figure to his players, seemingly affecting every person he encountered in a positive way.

In the season-ending loss to Rutgers last season, Pridmore suffered a broken nose. The injury required surgery, after which Pridmore was confined to a room in the infirmary.

"He came and sat there and talked with me for an hour, just seeing how I was doing, making sure everything was alright," said Pridmore of his late coach. "He told me if I needed anything just to call him at home. He sat there with me while I was alone in a lot of pain. He picked up my spirits and took my mind off of the pain I was in. It really helped me a great deal."

Berticelli had a unique ability to brighten a person's day with the simplest of gestures. "He was very good to me," said Detter. "I came to one of the football games and I was freezing, he let me wear his jacket."

The man they affectionately called "Coach B" also was known for a wonderful sense of humor. "He was really a people person," said current co-captain Steve Maio, "He could make anybody laugh. Things never seemed as bad when he was around. He would always have something funny to say."

Perhaps Berticelli's most profound impact, however, was the standard he set within his soccer program. "The most crucial parts of the program: the integrity, the discipline, the honesty, the work ethic are things coach [Berticelli] instilled in this program and are so deeply ingrained in this program," said Apple, "We can take what he started and continue it and make it better. Hopefully, we'll be able to achieve higher heights than he was able to. But when we do, he's a huge part of it. He laid the groundwork."

Apple falls close to the tree

The decision to name Apple head coach was an easy one. Rather than being confined to a specialized set of tasks, Berticelli involved his assistant in all aspects of the program during their four years together.

"One of the greatest things Coach did for me was to give me the responsibilities that I would have as a head coach," said Apple, "I was involved in everything from recruiting to training the team to making disciplinary decisions. He was the best mentor I could have asked for because he gave me all the experiences before I was a head coach but was always there as kind of a lifeline."

The similarities between the two coaches have not gone unnoticed by the players. "Coach Apple was basically apprenticing under Coach Berticelli. A lot of things are very similar," said Maio, "Coach Apple has taken so much of what `Coach B' taught him. Coach Berticelli would be very proud of Coach Apple for what he's accomplishing already."

While the legendary coach is gone, the Berticelli name is still very much present within the men's soccer program.

Last spring Nino Berticelli, Mike's son, was named goalkeepers coach after serving in a volunteer role during spring practices. Coach Apple is quite enthusiastic when speaking of his new assistant.

"Probably the best decision I've made so far was to hire Nino Berticelli," said Apple, "He did an unbelievable job last spring with the goalkeepers. He's continued to work diligently and intelligently. He's going to be one of the next great coaches in the country.

"I'm just really happy to be able to work with him, and in a small way to be a mentor to him the way his dad was a mentor to me and to continue the Berticelli legacy at the University of Notre Dame."

The young Berticelli is equally excited about his involvement in the Irish program, "To be here at Notre Dame now, there's no place I'd rather be," said Nino Berticelli. "First of all because this is my father's team. Second, Chris was here with my dad. I don't feel there's anybody better to be with than Chris Apple right now.

Paying tribute

The soccer program is honoring Berticelli's memory in a variety of ways. Both the home and away uniforms have the words "Coach B" imprinted on the sleeves, honoring the fallen leader in an informal way that represents the close relationship he had with the players.

Before the team's home opener next Wednesday against Bradley, there will be a small tribute and a moment of silence. The event that will truly keep Berticelli's memory alive, however, is the Mike Berticelli Memorial Soccer Tournament, which will begin during the 2000-2001 season.

"We're bringing in a four-year commitment from some of the best soccer schools in the nation to come in and play in Mike's honor," said Apple.

As the young team — the majority of the players are freshmen and sophomores — takes the field this fall, they bring with them an extra advantage. The strength and closeness forged in facing adversity together only reinforces the team concept. The traditions passed down from a veteran coach to his understudy, and from a father to a son will be influential throughout this campaign.

The Irish truly feel that Berticelli's legend is with them each and every time they take the field. "The guys and I know that every time a ball bounces our way or something close comes out in the Irish's favor, we've got a little extra help," said Apple, "Coach is watching; he's making sure things are going well for us. I know he's got his eye on the program, no doubt about it."

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