June 2, 2016

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina women’s soccer coach Shelley Smith announced the addition of Clark McCarthy to her coaching staff on Thursday. McCarthy, who joins the Gamecocks as an assistant coach, will work primarily with South Carolina’s goalkeepers.

“We had a lot of interest in the position and some tremendous candidates, and we’re really happy with bringing in Clark,” Smith said. “He’s a tremendous person who will fit well with our program. The goalkeepers are excited to work with him.”

McCarthy comes to South Carolina following multiple coaching stints around the state. He served as the head men’s soccer coach for five seasons at Dreher High School, where he led his team to the state playoffs each year. McCarthy worked with and developed 10 All-Region players throughout his tenure as head coach, including the 2013 Region Player of the year.

“He’s done a great job in the community, and he knows the area well,” Smith said. “We’re really excited to have him join our soccer family, and he will bring great enthusiasm and excitement to the program.”

McCarthy has spent much of his coaching career specifically developing goalkeepers. He was the goalkeeper coach for the Columbia College women’s soccer program this past fall, and he also worked with goalkeepers as an assistant coach at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke for the 2010 season. For the last five years, McCarthy has been the goalkeeper trainer for South Carolina’s Olympic Development Program (ODP) in Columbia.

“I’m very excited for this great opportunity,” McCarthy said. “I’m thankful to Shelley, Jamie and Coach Tanner, and I’m looking forward to working with these goalkeepers and being a part of something that’s pretty great.”

Other coaching stints of McCarthy include time at the South Carolina Youth Soccer Association (SCYSA), South Carolina United Futbol Club and Palmetto FC Bantams. He has also developed players through the Clark McCarthy Soccer Academy, which he started in 2009 to provide private training sessions and clinics.

McCarthy also brings an extensive teaching background to the Gamecock coaching staff. After serving as a student teacher at Brewer Middle School in Greenwood, S.C., McCarthy began teaching health and physical education at Dreher High School in 2011. He taught a variety of sports at Dreher, including soccer, basketball and team handball.

McCarthy played goalkeeper at Lander University from 2005-2008, helping the Bearcats reach the postseason in all four years. Lander advanced to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight in 2005 before winning both the regular-season and tournament title of the Peach Belt Conference one year later.

The Columbia, S.C., native graduated from Lander Magana Cum Laude in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in science, and he earned his master’s degree in sports science from the United States Sports Academy this past fall.

The Gamecocks, who released their 2016 schedule on Tuesday, open the season on the road against Oklahoma on Fri. Aug. 19. Season tickets for this fall can be purchased here.