MACON, Ga. –Grant Serafy was introduced as the new head women’s soccer coach at Mercer on Wednesday by athletics director Bobby Pope.
Since starting the women’s team in 1994, Serafy has guided Stratford to a 153-14-4 record entering this season and has won eight straight Georgia Independent School Association state titles.
“We are delighted to hire Grant as our new head women’s soccer coach,” Pope said. “He has experienced unparalled success at Stratford Academy and we are confident that he will be successful at Mercer. He has the reputation of being a tireless worker who motivates student-athletes to achieve their best.”
While at Stratford, he also coached the boys team for the past 16 seasons, leading Stratford to five state titles in the last eight year and racking up an impressive 215-64-13 record.
“I’m very excited about the opportunity to be a part of a fine institution like Mercer,” Serafy said. “I will forever be grateful to Stratford for giving me the opportunity to build a successful soccer program. I had to make one of the most difficult decisions of my life in leaving such a fine school as Stratford Academy. It has always been a goal of mine to move to the college ranks and when the opening came at Mercer in January, I was grateful that they were willing to consider me. The Mercer position allows me to stay in the Macon community, which I enjoy so much.”
A native of Atlanta, Ga., Serafy played on two state championship teams at The Westminster Schools and then played at Hartwick College.
After receiving his master’s degree from Springfield College in Massachusetts, Serafy established Stratford as one of the premier soccer
programs in Georgia. He guided Stratford to its first-ever national ranking in girls soccer, coming in 17th in the UMBRO/NSCAA girls high school top 20 poll in 1996. His 2000 squad was ranked 25th in the Fab 50 rankings by Student Sports Magazine. His undefeated 2002 team was ranked 17th in the same poll with his 2003 team coming in 34th.
He was selected as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Coach of the Year for secondary schools in Georgia in 2000 and 2002. He was selected the Macon Telegraph Middle Georgia Coach of the Year in 1990-91, 1995-96, 1996-97, Telegraph Boys’ Coach of the Year in 1997-98 and 1998-99, and Telegraph Girls’ Coach of the Year in 2000-01 and 2001-02 and 2002-03. He has also been honored as the GISA Girls’ Coach of the Year in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002 and the GISA Boys’ Coach of the Year in 1998 and 2002.
Serafy holds an “A” license from the United State Soccer Federation and a Premier Diploma from the NSCAA, the two highest forms of coaching credentials in the country. He has been a staff coach for the Georgia State Soccer Association and a coach for the Georgia Olympic Development Program.
