Girls’ soccer head coach Matthew Colvin has been a major part of the Carroll athletic program. He has made a lasting impression on many athletes and recently reached 500 career wins. Colvin has received so much support from colleagues and athletes for this remarkable achievement.
“My favorite thing about being a Dragon is the amazing support you get from the athletic community,” Colvin said. “The camaraderie between the entire coaching staff is awesome, but the kids, the players are what drives you.”
Colvin has been coaching for a total of twenty-five years, with twenty-four of them being at Carroll.
“500 wins is an awesome thing, but I think the real achievement is having committed so much time to one place,” Colvin said. “I have a determined and loyal coaching staff that is here for the right reasons. For the kids.”
Colvin runs a tight program that relies on the players taking initiative.
“We put a lot of responsibility on our seniors to help carry traditions along and help hold people accountable,” Colvin said. “They push our program in the right direction and it sets us apart as a team.”
The Lady Dragon soccer team had a record of 19-1-2 in district play.
Freshman Macie Colvin, Coach Colvin’s daughter, contributed to his 500th career win in the match against Keller Central on March 11.
“I’m very proud,” Macie said. “It’s cool how I got to watch him coach on the sidelines when I was four, and then, I got the opportunity to score in the game of his 500th win.”
Colvin has coached his daughter’s club team from a young age but was able to coach her on the varsity level this year.
“My dad is very dedicated to his work,” Macie said. “He’s caring, passionate, and has a fun side to him when he’s coaching. He loves what he does.”
Colvin makes an effort to keep soccer fun despite the hours of practice it requires.
“An idea I try to live by is that every day is a great day,” Colvin said. “It all depends on your mindset.”
Riley Dodge, Carroll’s Athletic Coordinator, was also a former football player for the Dragons. He knew Colvin earlier in his career when Dodge attended Carroll High School.
“It dates back to 2004,” Dodge said. “Coach Colvin used to pick on me a lot. One time in particular was during a game of B.U.T.T. It’s like playing P.I.G., but far more brutal. He invited me over and said, ‘Come on over and play this game, it’s really fun.’ Basically, if you missed your shot, you had to go inside the goal and turn around while the other players kicked at you. It was not fun. I got nailed so hard I was sent to the locker room. That was my first interaction with Coach. Very memorable.”
Fortunately, Dodge said that he was not scarred from their interaction and has continued to admire Colvin’s work as the Lady Dragon Soccer program has continued.
“The program has always been as consistent as now,” Dodge said. “Colvin has a standard and he trains these girls to put in the work to achieve it. That’s why they’re at 500 wins.”
Dodge has gone from a student to now a coworker of Colvin’s and is a true witness to the program’s success.
“Colvin is a great communicator,” Dodge said. “To be a great coach, you have to be a great teacher and a great communicator. Without those two things, you can’t have the success that he’s had.”
