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He's the type of coach I would've loved to play for, one who demands the best and is willing to push players to the next level. As a member of the media, he also has been that perfect coach, someone who is honest about his players and others while also offering that common sense and humor that keeps things in perspective.
Come next spring, however, high school girls soccer in Illinois will not be the same without Aaron Carpenter standing on the St. Ignatius sidelines. Over the past decade, he took a no-name program and first turned it into a Class A power to then hanging with the big boys in Class AA and Class 3A this spring.
Carpenter said to me earlier this season that it felt awesome knowing he used to have to call the great programs for games to then having them calling him this year. He was honest with parents and laid down the law, but did it in the right way. "Carp" would go above and beyond for any of his players, whether it was his star or the last player on his bench.
How do I know that? Because I would talk to him a number of times each week over the past couple of seasons. I heard the excitement in his voice when the Wolfpack won a big game, and the pain after a three overtime loss to York.
But this season may have been his best, as it was supposed to be that perfect season coaches dream about. The Wolfpack had a ton of talent returning from their 26-1-1 regular-season team of 2007, the same squad that lost to only St. Charles North in the second round of the Pepsi Showdown.
But one of the stars from that squad elected to play club, and St. Ignatius lost six starters to injuries the first 10 days of the season. Playing its toughest schedule in the program's history, Carpenter's group concluded with a 16-8-1 mark to bring his career record to 189-74-24.
"When we go against these big suburban public schools, the depth, speed, size, and athleticism kills us," Carpenter said. "The perception of our team was much bigger than what it really was.
"Last year, we went to the Elite Eight without playing one team in the Sweet 16 for the regular season. This year we played eight of the final 16, four of the final eight and two of the final four.
"We were thoroughly outplayed three halves all year. I'm proud of the girls for that."
And trust me, Carpenter and I didn't always see eye-to-eye. He thought Hinsdale Central was the team to beat after he saw them, and I disagreed.
He is moving to Denver and will most likely coach club before finding a new high school to call home. There's no doubt in my mind that it will only be a matter of time before that program will be a state power in Colorado.
And there's also no doubt the minute he disagrees with a blog or response from a reader, I'll be hearing from him again.
Take a bow, Carp, you deserve it.
- Joe Trost
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I have to speak for my daughter, not only did she receive a great education at SICP, she recevied the utmost thing anyone could receive, memories. She will never remember what grade she received for a specific class. But she will always remember everything to do with soccer and Coach Carp. Good and Bad....from our Italy tournament to breakfast club, from last year's elite 8 to the triple OT loss to York, from the bonds he created amongst these girls and the parents to her injury. I could go on and on. Tomorrow night is the team's banquet, there will be a lot of goodbye tears for a man that dedicated himself to a sport and school in the manner that he did. Thanks for everything Carp!