No Result
View All Result
Military Families
SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
 Military Families
SUBSCRIBE FREE
Military Families
No Result
View All Result

Longtime Navy women’s soccer coach teaches players to build legacy

Stephen Ruiz
by Stephen Ruiz
October 14, 2020
Navy women's soccer coach Military Families Magazine
ShareTweetEmailWhatsApp

Early during Carin Gabarra’s coaching career at Navy, it was not uncommon for her to pack several small orange cones for running sprints.

They were not for her players.

Gabarra, a key piece of Team USA’s gold-medal-winning squad in the first Olympic Games that included women’s soccer in 1996, kept her spot on the national team after the academy hired her. She needed the practice.

“Sometimes you would look out of a window on the seventh floor of a hotel and look down, and she’s doing sprints back and forth, using the parking-lot lines as her lines,’’ said Rob Blanck, in his 26th year as an assistant coach at Navy. “Nothing fazes her. She’s as resilient of a human being that I’ve ever known in my life.’’

Navy hired Gabarra in 1993 as it sought to promote women’s soccer to an NCAA-sanctioned sport. She is the Patriot League’s all-time leader in victories and has led Navy to at least a share of the conference title 10 times, including an outright championship in 2019. Four of those seasons ended in the NCAA Tournament.

Read: MLB prosepct starts military committment

The Patriot League canceled fall sports because of the coronavirus pandemic, but Navy was granted an exemption and may try to play an abbreviated non-conference schedule.

“Starting from scratch and finding recruits and going out and watching them play, it takes a lot to build, because the kids who were on the team when I got here didn’t come to play soccer,’’ Gabarra said. “I had to get certain recruits and get in athletes who wanted to do this, along with attending the Naval Academy. It’s a mind shift.’’

Gabarra (nee Jennings) arrived at Navy after previous stints as the head coach at Westmont College in California and as an assistant at Harvard. Kerry Kuykendall, who played club soccer at Navy in the early 1990s, was from Gabarra’s hometown and mentioned her to school officials as a viable coaching candidate as they sought to grow the sport.

It was a good match.

“There weren’t just that many programs in the United States at that point, … and now it has just evolved so much,’’ Gabarra said.

Gabarra was undaunted by the challenge of building a successful program at an institution with such high standards. She has faced longer odds. 

Women’s soccer did not enjoy anywhere near the popularity it has achieved in the United States before Gabarra and other Hall of Fame players such as Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly and Julie Foudy arrived on the national pitch.

Gabarra, a forward, was chosen the most outstanding player of the first Women’s World Championship (which became the World Cup) in 1991. She was selected to the sport’s all-century team in 1999.

“I’m a purist of the game,’’ Gabarra said.

Not that she shines a spotlight on her credentials.

Read: Paraolympian finds future in adaptive sports

Cadie Higginson graduated in May after playing four seasons at Navy. During her recruitment, she was unaware of Gabarra’s accomplishments. Then a friend suggested she Google Gabarra.

Navy women's soccer coach Military Families Magazine

“It was like, ‘World champion. MVP. Olympic. All of this stuff,’’’ said Higginson, who plans to study for a year at Oxford before joining the Marines. “And I just came in intimidated by her, and then you meet her. She’s just the most down-to-earth person you could possibly meet.’’

Entering her 28th season at Navy — only men’s golf coach Pat Owen, who arrived in 1991, has been there longer — Gabarra wants her players to build their own legacy. That’s why a sheet of paper is left in each player’s locker, chronicling the players who have worn her number in program history.

It’s a reminder of how the past is linked to the present.

“Every year feels like new,’’ Gabarra said. “It’s never the same thing because of the difference in players and people coming in. I’ve just been fortunate that I’ve stayed in one place for so long.’’

Read comments
Tags: Carin GabarraNavy soccerwomen's soccer
Share48Tweet30SendSend
Stephen Ruiz

Stephen Ruiz

Stephen Ruiz, 53, worked in the newspaper industry for more than three decades. During the past 21 years, he worked for the Orlando Sentinel as a writer, copy editor and high school editor in the sports department. He also served as an online producer. Stephen graduated from Louisiana State University with a bachelor's degree in journalism and enjoys reading, cooking and exercising. He has completed three marathons.

Related Posts

Ebony Anglers Military Families Magazine
Sports

Ebony Anglers reel in success

3 months ago
Navy offense coordinator is best motivated by players, even after 19 years
Sports

Navy offense coordinator is best motivated by players, even after 19 years

3 months ago
Army-Navy football MIlitary Families Magazine
Sports

Army-Navy: ‘Game that really touches all of America’

4 months ago
MLB prospect military commitment Military Families Magazine
Sports

MLB prospect starts military commitment

7 months ago
Marine Corps Marathon goes virtual for first time in 45 years
Military News

Marine Corps Marathon goes virtual for first time in 45 years

9 months ago

Discussion about this post

Ads

Military News, delivered to your inbox

Get a free copy of MILITARY FAMILIES delivered to your inbox each month

Let's connect!

ABOUT US

  • OUR STORY
  • OUR TEAM
  • MEET OUR WRITERS

MAGAZINE

  • GET PRINT
  • GET DIGITAL

GET RESOURCES

  • EDUCATION GUIDE
  • INSURANCE GUIDE

ADVERTISE

  • GET OUR MEDIA KIT
  • CFC PARTNERS
  • PRICING
  • PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT

SUBMISSIONS

  • PITCH US
  • SUBMIT YOUR STORY
  • BOOK CLUB
Never miss out on the latest stories.
© 2021 Military Families by AmeriForce. Privacy Policy | Terms | Site by Swiss Commerce

Thank you for your interest in Military Families Magazine!

Thank you for your interest in Military Families Magazine!

Thank you for your interest in Military Families Magazine!

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Military Life
    • Deployment
    • Relocation
    • Military Spouses
    • Military Kids
  • Education
  • Career
    • Transition
    • Entrepreneur
    • Veterans
  • Health
  • Money
  • Travel
  • Get Resources
    • Education Guide
    • Insurance Guide
  • Giveaways

© 2020 Military Families by AmeriForce. Site by SCBW.