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15Maher McCarthy2A newly-constructed sign on the Fayetteville Academy soccer field lists the 16 state boys’ championships and two girls’ championships the school has won. 

Two men, Jimmy Maher and Andrew McCarthy, were directly involved in bringing 13 of those titles to the school. For their efforts, Maher and McCarthy have been chosen for induction into the Fayetteville Academy Hall of Fame. 

The ceremony will take place on Nov. 20 as part of the school’s annual alumni boys’ and girls’ basketball games. 

Maher was head boys soccer coach from 1994-2000. He won four titles before stepping away to pursue a business venture with Fayetteville Academy benefactor Dr. William Jordan. 

“I had a group of parents come to me and say ‘please don’t go,’’’ Maher said. He reassured them and told them he was confident a young man who had started helping out with the soccer team a couple of years before he stepped down would be an excellent coach. 

  That coach was McCarthy. “They thought the sky had fallen when I left but Andrew didn’t miss a beat,’’ Maher said. “He took it to the next level.’’ 

  McCarthy, who took over in 2001 and has been there ever since, said he and Maher have a similar vision about how to coach the team. “Every day we’re talking about life lessons,’’ McCarthy said. “We talk about getting ready for games and dealing with issues that will help them in life. 

  “We’re trying to teach the things that will help them become good fathers in the future. Very few, if any, are going to make a living out of the game. From the lessons they’ve learned, they’re going to be successful. I see a lot of our players going on and doing great things.’’ 

  Maher said the two approach the game with the same work ethic and share it with their players. “We worked extremely hard and tried to become better coaches,’’ Maher said. “We traveled the state, scouting teams we are going to play. It was rare we came up against a team we hadn’t seen on at least a couple of occasions.’’ 

  When Maher first wanted to come back and help coach the team in 2008, he asked McCarthy to let him work during the preseason only. McCarthy coaxed him into helping coach the boys and girls for one year. That has extended into 10 seasons. 

  Maher praised McCarthy for his success and is convinced McCarthy could be a coach at any level of soccer. 

  Neither is the type to promote personal success or accomplishments. “The game itself is enough for us,’’ Maher said. “The most important thing is the relationship with the kids. That’s the most valuable thing I get from what I do.’’ 

  McCarthy agreed. “It’s nice to be rewarded, but at the end of the day, we’re in it for the kids, how we see them growing and moving on to do wonderful things in the workplace.’’ 

Photo: Andrew McCarthy (left) and Jimmy Maher (right)

Photo credit: Sonya Bruffey

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