Former Cal letter winner and volunteer assistant coach Rachel Mercik enters her second season on the UC Davis sidelines as a volunteer assistant in 2022.
Mercik brings a wealth of experience to the Aggie program following a six-year professional career in Germany (FFC Turbine Potsdam from 2014-15), Sweden (Vittsjö GIK in 2016-17), and Cyprus (Apollon Ladies FC in 2018-19), helping lead the latter to a league championship and qualification into the UEFA Women’s Champions League group stages in 2019.
She was also a member of the U16 U.S. Youth National Team Camp in 2006-07, represented the United States as a member of the U18 U.S. Youth National Team in 2007 as part of a three-match friendly series in Argentina, was part of the U20 player pool in 2010, and attended United States U23 Team Camp in 2013.
In addition to her stint as a volunteer assistant under head coach Neil McGuire in 2015, when she helped lead her alma mater to a 13-6-3 overall record and an NCAA Tournament berth, Mercik also has coaching experience with a number of club teams and academies all over the world, including the Walnut Creek Surf SC (2015), both the American Academy Private School and Lemasia Junior Academy in Cyprus during her time as a professional, and the Solano Surf SC.
Mercik was also a head coach at the Bjärnums Skola during her time in Sweden, a program that was focused on teaching the fundamentals of the sport while unifying and integrating children from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and currently serves as a mentor with Female Footballers, helping young girls achieve higher playing levels and personal goals by focusing on the mental aspect of sports.
A mainstay in the Golden Bears’ lineup from 2010-13, Mercik appeared in 75 matches over her four-year career, including serving as team captain during a senior season that saw her finish second on the team in goals scored (six), assists (four), and points (16). A Pac-12 Conference honorable mention selection that year, her “golden goal” at Stanford in the regular-season finale helped Cal to its first win over its rival in six years.
During her time in Berkeley, Mercik helped lead the Golden Bears to a combined 48-23-14 overall record and four trips to the NCAA Tournament, including second-round appearances as a sophomore (2011) and junior (2012).
The El Dorado Hills, Calif., native prepped at Oak Ridge HS, helping the Trojans to a CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division II championship in 2009 while leading the team in goals and assists and earning first-team all-league honors.
She graduated from Cal with a degree in interdisciplinary studies with a focus on society and technology.
