Karns City boys soccer head coach RJ Carson, right, will lead the Gremlins on Wednesday against Mercer, a team his father, Bob, left, is an assistant coach for. Submitted Photo

RJ Carson is used to seeing his father on the sideline, just not the opposing one.

When Mercer’s boys soccer team visits Karns City for a 5 p.m. game Wednesday, RJ, head coach of the Gremlins, will be opposed by the Mustangs, for whom Bob Carson is an assistant coach.

Mercer’s head coach, Tim Coryea, mentored RJ when the 2018 Mercer graduate was playing in the district’s youth league.

“My dad coached me for a number of years, too,” RJ said. “I have a lot of respect for both of them. I’ve thought about how I can take things I’ve learned from them and use it now that I’m coaching.”

This is RJ’s second year of leading the Gremlins (5-9-1). In 2022, he was the head coach of Grove City’s middle school boys team and Bob was his assistant.

Bob, a 1987 Seneca Valley High graduate, was a member of that school’s first-ever boys soccer team.

“Our coach was Scott Brown,” Bob said. “He was good to us and taught us the basics, but we just didn’t have much experience in the sport. The sport has progressed so much, players are so much better these days.”

Bob has remained involved in the sport for decades. He started coaching in SV’s youth ranks before graduating from high school. He later moved on to Mercer.

“I like watching players advance,” he said. “You always want your kids to improve on what you did and I wish RJ all the luck in the world toward that end.”

RJ Carson is quick to acknowledge his dad’s role in his love for soccer.

“He was always very supportive and encouraging of me and my friends and helped build Mercer’s youth program to what it is today,” he said. “He still comes to my games when he’s able. It’s a cool thing to be going up against his team.”