| ||||||||||||
In eleven years at Charlotte, head coach John Tart has guided the 49ers to two NCAA Tournaments, including the memorable run to the 1996 NCAA National Semifinals. He has produced a ten-year record of 108-87-23. He became the program's all-time winningest coach in the 49ers 1-0 win at East Carolina, September 15, 2002. In 2004, he was named Conference USA Co-Coach of the Decade. Since 1991, he has been to the NCAA Tournament four times: 1991, 1993 with Furman; 1996, 1997 with Charlotte. In 1996, he landed a regular-season Conference USA co-championship, established a new school record with 19 wins, was named Conference USA Coach of the Year and took Charlotte all the way to men's soccer version of the Final Four. In 1997, the 49ers won the tournament championship at Wake Forest's Nike Invitational on their way to their fifth NCAA appearance. In 1998, the 49ers won 11 matches on the way to the Conference USA Tournament semifinals. He coached the 49ers to back-to-back Big Four Classic titles with wins over NC State and Duke. "As a head coach, my objective is helping my players succeed in the classroom, on the field and in life," Tart said. "My goal is to provide each of my players with the coaching and guidance that will enable them to be successful in those areas, while helping them mature as young men." A 1981 graduate of Furman, Tart played for four seasons with the Paladins before beginning a successful 13-year head coaching stint at the Greenville, S.C., campus. As a coach at Furman, he brought the Paladins into the national limelight with 10 Southern Conference Championships, three trips to NCAA post-season play and a 137-92-21 record. In Furman's first NCAA Tournament trip in 1991, the Paladins scored a 1-0 overtime victory over Wake Forest, which was ranked first in the South Region. They advanced to the NCAA Tournament again in 1993 and earned an NCAA play-in berth with their fifth straight Southern Conference title in 1994. Tart owns an overall NCAA Tournament coaching record of 4-4. Tart was the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) South Region Coach of the Year in 1986 and 1991 and earned Southern Conference Coach of the Year honors in 1983, '86, '91 and '93. In addition to his on-field success, three players have earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors, including two-time selection Jim Kunevicius. Four of Tart's players have earned Adidas Academic All-America status. "I won't go anywhere where the kids I recruited couldn't get an excellent education," Tart said when he accepted his position with the 49ers. " I need to know, in my heart, that I'm selling the total package: quality athletics, quality academics; a good social setting surrounded with good people. Charlotte has the total package to offer." A native of Charlotte, Tart spent his high school days at Carmel Academy, but it was the growing program more than its locale that most attracted Tart to the position. "Yes, I'm from Charlotte," Tart said. "After being at Charlotte for a number of years, there is no doubt that the soccer program is important to the university and to the athletic department." Tart and his wife of 21 years, Beth, have a 14-year son Michael. Tart is heavily involved in the community coaching in a local youth soccer program as well being an active member of the Mecklenburg Community Church.
email: jmtartsr@email.uncc.edu
