First  in a new series profiling youth soccer coaches from around the area.

Getting to know…
Jamie “Coach McG” McGroarty
Head Coach Girls Varsity Soccer
Eastern Regional (Camden County, NJ) High School
President, South Jersey Soccer Hall of Fame

PSP: What originally inspired you to play soccer?
My Mom, on the recommendation of my aunt, tricked me and said she was signing me up for
football.  Didn’t know she meant futbol. The rest is history.

PSP: Can you describe a moment in your playing career that significantly influenced your coaching
approach?
There was no singular moment in my playing career, but I was always fascinated by the chess match
with opposing defenders and how to beat them, get in position to score. Even as a player, I was
always trying to manipulate the opposition so we would be in position to win.  That and just the
competitive nature of the game and my thirst for winning.

Who was the most famous player you ever played against? … played with?
I played for United German Hungarians just out of college. Our team, which was loaded, played
the USMNT team in their last exhibition before the World Cup in 1990.  We lost 1-0 on a late goal by
Eric Wynalda, but all the big names played for them. I hit the post twice on headers.

What is your core philosophy as a youth soccer coach?
My core philosophy as a youth soccer coach is to put the players in the best position to succeed
individually and collectively as a team.

How have you adapted your coaching style over the years in nurturing talent in younger and
younger players?
My coaching style has changed in that I am not as temperamental on the sidelines as I used to be,
although I still have my moments. I have learned that less is more, both in training and in games.

Who has been your biggest influence in your youth coaching career? Why?
My biggest influences are my HS Coach Dr Ira Kosloff (CH West), and my college Coach Dan
Gilmore- (Glassboro State College)- 2 drastically different coaches but each a great coach in their
own way.

What was your most memorable moment as a youth soccer coach?
My most memorable moments were each New Jersey State Championship (2005, 2006, 2018). Just
standing there at the end of each game watching the girls celebrate and reach a goal that they had
set. My #1 individual moment is my daughter, Kelli, scoring the winning goal with 5 min left in the 2018
New Jersey High School State Final.

What do you see for the future of USA youth soccer after hosting the 2026 World Cup?
After the World Cup we have to find a way to get the best players, not the wealthiest players,
integrated into our select teams.  We have so many untapped potential players, but due to $, they do
not get the chance to play on these elite teams or get the top training.  Hopefully this World Cup will
give the best players more exposure and opens some doors for those players.

PSP: Any Bucket list items left before you hang up your whistle?
Coach with my daughter someday – she is looking to be a college coach.

Jamie “Coach McG” McGroarty Notable Career Achievements:

*550 Career Soccer wins – 550 wins – 124 losses – 55 ties
*Most All Time Wins for South Jersey Girls Coaches
*3rd Most All Time Wins for New Jersey Girls Coaches
*Eastern Regional (Camden County, NJ) High School Girls Varsity Soccer Coach 2003 – present (22 years), 385 wins – 82 losses – 43 ties
*New Jersey State Championships Group IV – 2005, 2006, 2018
*Olympic American Championships – 10 times
*SJSCA Coaches Tournament Championships – 6 times
*Sectional Championships Group IV – 7 times
*NSCAA New Jersey State Coach of the Year – 2012, 2019
*NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year – 2012, 2019
*NJGSCA – South Jersey Coach of the Year – 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019
*NISOA/NSCAA National Award of Merit – 2017
*SJSCA Coach of the Year – 2006, 2017
*Coach of National Senior All American All-Star Game – 2019
*NHSACA National Coach of the Year – 2023
*Delsea High School Girls Varsity Soccer Coach 1992-2002 (11 years), 165 wins – 42 losses – 12 ties
*Tri-County Championships – 7 timesGroup III Sectional Championships – 2 times
*New Jersey State Champions Group III – 1993