1. November-December 2014 Through the green 29
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team at Pinecrest Academy, a private Catholic school in Geor-
gia. In his first three seasons entering this year, McCarthy’s teams
posted winning records each season. An opportunity to shape
youngsters drives McCarthy. “The game is about having heart,
soul and pushing yourself to the next level and finding what that
level is,” he says.
His son, Ryan, seeks that next level. He appears to be on a good
path. Ryan, only a sophomore, is the starting varsity quarter-
back for the Pinecrest Academy Paladins’ varsity team. At 6’ 3”,
190lbs, the younger McCarthy has the size that should make
recruiters drool if he shows promise. Schools such as Boston
College and the University of Pennsylvania already have shown
interest.
He wasn’t the first standout athlete in this family. Karen McCar-
thy produced some pretty special credentials in her day. In her
youth when she was known as Karen Brewer, she qualified for the
Olympic Trials in the backstroke at the age of 15. She thinks her
husband is talented on multiple fronts.
“John loves the outdoors and takes great pride in his work on the
golf course,” says Karen, who was an All-American swimmer at
Florida Atlantic University. “He also has a great love for children.
He not only coaches them in football but in life. He wants each
boy to be a well-rounded individual. He always puts the person
first but takes great pride in his wins.”
Ultimately, Karen says, her husband places family first. “His
greatest achievement is that he has been able to balance his work,
his coaching and his family,” she says.
Since McCarthy is in El Paso, his assistants help him during the
week until Fridays when McCarthy returns to coach that middle
school team at Pinecrest Academy. Asked if he would be will-
ing to leave behind the job of a superintendent position to be
a football coach, McCarthy wouldn’t completely rule it out. Yet
the passion for the profession that he developed as a 15-year-old
working on the course in summer hasn’t faded.
“The scenery out on the golf course changes every day. There-
fore your life does,” McCarthy says. “I love to impact lives of our
football players and I feel the same way about making an impact
in my profession. It’s what I do.” n
— Howard Richman, GCM associate editor
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