Coaching Philosophy: Fran McCullin, Three Decades of Coaching in Carroll County

Fran McCullin, a math teacher at West Middle School, has been coaching at the high school level since 1980. He said he coached soccer first at Liberty and then 4 years later at Westminster. He has coached tennis in Carroll County since 1982, first at Liberty and then at Westminster. 

Patch caught up with McCullin and asked him what he has learned over the years about working with young athletes. 

Patch: What inspired you to coach?

McCullin: Playing three sports in high school and two sports in college, I was fortunate to have played for many different coaches. Every coach I came in contact with taught me something that I have been able to use in my own coaching career.  My most influential coaches helped me improve as a player by improving my skills, and allowing me to enjoy the game more due to the new-found ability to play the game at a higher level. It was this experience that continues to shape my coaching.

Patch: You must have had some great inspiration. Who were some coaches that got you to where you are today?

McCullin: The two most influential coaches I played for were Craig Lafferty, my junior varsity soccer coach at Randallstown High (who I later coached against during the high school varsity soccer playoffs when he was coach of Dulaney High School). and my collegiate tennis coach Ron Jones from Western Maryland College who was instrumental in the development of my game. I would be remiss if I didn't include my Dad, who was not only my first coach, but who also took an interest in the sports I played despite not playing them himself growing up. He was the one who taught me the importance of practice.

Patch: What do you get out of coaching?

McCullin: The best part of coaching is seeing former players go on to become successful people--good fathers, good husbands, good people. Coaching is my way of giving back what I have gained from playing, so others may reap the same benefits I did.