During his time as a student athlete at Trinity, assistant men’s soccer coach Edward Cartee enjoyed the opportunities he was given to explore so many different things. Cartee explained how he was given amazing chances to meet interesting people, study diverse topics, study abroad and play soccer. Cartee, who studied history, Spanish and Chinese, graduated in 2009.
In addition to serving as the head soccer coach at San Antonio’s Central Catholic High School, Cartee has served as the assistant men’s soccer coach at his alma mater for the past six years.
“I think it’s really impactful and meaningful that I am a Trinity alum. So not only do I know in general what the challenges are being a student athlete at college, but I also know specifically what it’s like to live at Trinity and go through that experience here,” Cartee said.
Cartee was recently selected by the United Soccer Coaches (USC) for the 30 Under 30 Program. Of the coaches in the United States under age 30, Cartee was one of the 15 men “” in addition to 15 women “” who was selected for a prestigious mentorship program.
“I was very fortunate to be a recipient this year. As part of that I get a scholarship for an additional coaching license and I get a trip to the national coaches convention in Philadelphia in January and I get a mentorship with an experienced coach in their organization,” Cartee said. “I’m just really honored to have another opportunity to represent Trinity on a national stage and for me, personally, I’m just really excited about the professional growth and development I’m hoping to get out the experience.”
If you weren’t a coach, what job do you think would do?
“Novelist.”
What’s your second favorite sport after soccer?
“It’s hard to pick “˜cause I love so many sports, but hockey.”
What was your favorite soccer memory as player?
“Two things. Here at Trinity, my senior year, we were ranked in the top 10 and Wheaton Illinois were ranked in the top 10 and they came in and played us. They had a different formation than any team we had played. So I had a different and very specific role in our defensive scheme in order to counteract that and I felt like I had a really great game and we, as a team, beat them 4-1.
Second, the team that I played with in Taipei, when I was studying abroad, won the city league championship there and I actually scored the game winning goal in that game.”
Do you have a favorite soccer team?
“Historically it was Arsenal. Right now it’s Bayern Munich.”
Who’s the coolest person you’ve met in person through soccer?
“Oh wow “¦ The biggest name that I’ve met would probably be Jozy Altidore who’s a men’s national team forward, if we’re limiting that to soccer athletes who I’ve met.”
Who’s the most famous person you’ve met overall?
“I would have to say Eli Manning. I met him when I was at IMG and he was training there. He’s a really nice man with incredibly giant hands.”
Who is your favorite soccer player?
“Zinedine Zidane.”
Do you have a favorite soccer movie?
“Oh, there’s a couple of good ones, but I think my favorite sports movies are not actually soccer movies.”
What is your favorite sport movie?
The story of Moneyball is my favorite and the movie is good, but it’s not about the movie. It’s the story.”
What’s your greatest lesson learned at Trinity?
“Wow. There are so many, but I guess I would say Trinity was a place where I learned that you have to be both idealistic and realistic and that those are not opposites and that those can coexist.”
What’s your favorite place at Trinity that’s not the soccer field?
“The meditation garden by Parker Chapel.”
What would say is your greatest memory as a coach?
“So far, it would be the two state championships I’ve won as the head coach of Central Catholic High School, but I’m hoping to add to that list many more, including hopefully another national championship at Trinity.”
If you could switch lives for a day with anyone at Trinity, who would you chose?
“Dr. Tingle. Jacob Tingle. There’s a lot of people here that I admire and would love to learn more from but his talent, his versatility, the way that he balances his commitment to so many involved, significant time consuming endeavors”¦ I have nothing but admiration for him and he is also a wonderful husband and father.”
What is one thing most people probably don’t know about Coach McGinlay?
“I don’t think people know how well-read he is. He was an English literature major. “˜The Great Gatsby’ is his favorite book. I think there is a side to him that, when you get to know him, it makes perfect sense, but on the surface a lot of people don’t really see him as anything other than the coach.”
What do you love about soccer?
“I think it’s an incredible sport. It’s hard to point to just one thing or another, but I love the fact that it’s a team sport. I love the fact that it’s so creative and free-flowing. There’s so much strategy and I find that enjoyable. I love the fact that it’s a little bit of [a] unique sport in terms of eye-foot coordination as opposed to eye-hand coordination. Being both aerobic and anaerobic as far as the endurance demands of the sport and just the passion that it engenders globally, not just in America, makes it a very unique sport to follow because there’s such history and tradition and there’s no right or wrong way to play it. Every nation and culture has its own style. There’s constantly innovation going on within it. I mean, I guess some of those things are things I intuitively picked up on right away and liked about it and some of those are things you grow to appreciate more as you’ve been in the game for a while, but, when you first start playing, more than anything it’s just about enjoyment and so soccer for me was fun and something I became passionate about and it’s hard to really tell you exactly when or how that happened, but it just got in my blood and it’s a part of me.”
