On Sept. 9, Dave McCarter achieved his 100th career coaching win when the Altoona boys’ soccer team beat cross-town rival Hollidaysburg 2-1.
“When I found out [about McCarter’s 100 career wins] I thought how he really can bring teams together and make it to 100 wins,” senior Jude Plutko said. “I think it changed my perspective on how his leadership in being a coach really affects the team.”
Some teams don’t win 100 games over multiple coaching staffs. In just nine years, McCarter alone was able to lead Altoona’s varsity team to (now over) 100 wins.
In 2016, McCarter was named the coach of the boys’ soccer team, taking over for coach Dave Alexander.
“Twenty six years ago, I entered the district as a sub and [I] wanted to coach since I played here,” McCarter said. “Really my heart was in coming back here and coaching, so when the head coach [Coach Alexander] I was under who coached for 17 years left, I just naturally wanted to move into that position, and I was lucky enough to be granted it.”
The desire to lead the team to victory has been in the works for quite some time. As an Altoona alum, McCarter played for the same team he now coaches throughout his high school career.
“I haven’t played for some time. I still try to be active and play the game, so I can be in the mindset of knowing when they may be tired or sore or run down,” McCarter said. “Our mindset is ‘let’s push forward,’ but sometimes you’ve got to press pause to let them rehab.”
Aside from proper rest, McCarter also attributes the success of the team to their positive, uplifting culture.
“We have a culture of team support for each other,” McCarter said. “I can only put 11 guys out there. But, at the same time, I want to develop players who will support those starting 11. We call it the ladder.”
“When I was a freshman, I didn’t have much of a role on the team. Now I feel like I can motivate the younger players who are also just starting out,” senior midfielder Matthew Harkins said.
This support extends outside the field as well.
“Outside bonding through things like our spaghetti dinners allows us to become closer as a team,” senior defensive player Colton Chathams said. “Spending time together off the field is just as important as spending time together on the field. Creating an inclusive team environment allows everyone to have fun and build some sort of relationship with each other.”
Another way McCarter has led the team to success is by honing in on what individual players’ needs are.
“I always try to see the individual player, but [I also] try to keep in mind the needs of the collective,” McCarter said “There’s the individual growth, but then there’s the team growth, so it’s a balancing act which can be difficult at times. I spend a lot of time thinking about this, even more so than the time on the field.”
For some, thinking about soccer this much could burn them out, but not for McCarter. Even after nearly a lifetime of being a part of Altoona boys soccer, he is still able to stay motivated.
“That’s the beauty of sports: it teaches us how to push through challenges,” McCarter said. “It continues to teach me even at my age and my time. It’s easy to stay motivated when things are going well, but when the kids are great, win or lose, it’s a super motivator.”
McCarter’s love to build Altoona’s soccer program doesn’t necessarily come from soccer.
“One hundred wins is great, but my milestones are who are these people and who have they become?” McCarter said. “Where are they now? What are they doing? Win or lose, to me, as long as I’m building better student athletes [and] better people then I’m happy.”
To continue the team’s success, McCarter and players advise students to come to their games and cheer them on. Their next game is home versus State College on Monday Oct. 7.
“Get these students out to cheer us on,” McCarter said. “[We’ll be] hitting playoffs before you know it and hopefully we [will] make a run this year.”
