The Felician sports information office started a new online initiative in September 2015. In "Where Are They Now?" we periodically attempt to catch up with Golden Falcon athletics alumni who have gone on to interesting and successful career paths.
In the eighth installment, we visit with Michael Mueller '00. The former Golden Falcon men's soccer player has been active serving both his alma mater and his country since graduation.
Name: Michael J. Mueller
E-Mail: MistrMueller@aol.com
Year of Felician graduation: 2000
Sport(s): Men's Soccer
Major(s): Elementary Education / Fine Art
Twitter handle: N/A
Hometown while in high school: Wood-Ridge, N.J.
Currenty town/city of residence: Wayne, N.J.
List any post-graduate studies or certifications
New Jersey teaching certificiate
United States Army
Federal Law Enforcement
New Jersey Law Enforcement
Firearms Instructor
Weapons Armorer
SWAT Team member
Current full-time employment
Wood-Ridge Police Department
Other positions held since Felician graduation
Teacher, Lenonia, N.J. and Old Tappan, N.J.
Assistant Coach, Men's Soccer, Women's Basketball and Men's Golf, Felician College
Assistant Men's Soccer Coach, Stevens Institute of Technology
United States Army National Guard, Bravo Company 2nd Battalion 20th Special Forces Group (A)
Federal Air Marshal, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Any other life events you would like to tell us about?
Married (Laura), with two sons, Fletch (3) and Hank (18 months)
Assistant coach for two Felician men's soccer teams which won conference and regional championships (2000, 2001). The 2000 team was inducted into the Felician Athletics Hall of Fame
As assistant men's soccer coach at Stevens, coached in NCAA Division III national championship game
Served in the Global War on Terror in Afghanistan in 2003
Current member of Felician University Athletics Hall of Fame Committee
How have you applied your experience participating in college athletics to your current employment?
As a member of a police department, SWAT team, and as a former member of the military, my time as a college soccer player has been a great benefit to me. I've continued to stay active using the same work ethic and desire to succeed that I had as a player. I still enjoy making those around me better and pushing people to their maximum potential.
How has your Felician academic coursework and other extracurricular activities impacted your life, especially professionally?
Even though I am no longer teaching in a classroom, I have used my knowledge and experience as a certified educator to improving training methods and curriculum for my police department and for other entities within Bergen County.
What advice, about any aspect of college life, would you give to a current Felician student-athlete?
Soak it up! Enjoy every struggle and victory equally. Your character is being developed in both situations, and that character will serve you for life. Don't look back with any regret. Leave your team, the athletics department and your University better than you found it.
