Girls soccer: McCartney resigns as OHS coach

A decision that may appear to be a no-brainer on paper was a gut-wrencher for Jessie McCartney.

That is how much Odessa High School and helping build the girls athletics program means to her.

McCartney has resigned as the OHS girls soccer coach to take the same job at Pflugerville Connally, which has made the Class 4A playoffs in six of the last seven seasons and will make the move up to Class 5A in the next school year.

"I certainly have a lot of ties to Odessa High," McCartney said. "I lived on the east side and came over to be a westside kid because of the AP (Advanced Placement) program, so I was a Broncho by choice for sure. I love Odessa High, and I bleed red. I always have."

McCartney, a 1996 graduate of Odessa High, played on the school's first two volleyball playoff teams in 1994 and 1995 and on the school's first two girls soccer teams in 1995 and 1996.

After graduating from Texas Tech, she was the assistant girls soccer coach at OHS in 2002 and 2003 before moving up to the head coach's spot in 2004.

OHS tied a program record with four district victories in 2004, and that feat almost was equaled this season as the Lady Bronchos went 11-12-1 overall and 3-9 in district games. One of the nondistrict victories coming against eventual Region I-5A Tournament semifinalist Lubbock Coronado.

"I regret not being able to get more district wins on the board," McCartney said. "But overall we've had more wins and created a soccer camp for kids to come to, and lots of things have been developed. We've had more all-district kids, and another big is we've had more kids go to play college soccer.

"It's not just about soccer. It's about the game of life, and I want the kids to be successful - not just on the field, but in the classroom or at home or whatever might be in their future."

McCartney's last season featured a roster with just three seniors for much of the way, and a number of injuries began to show up at the end of the 3-5A campaign. OHS started 3-5 in district and was in the thick of the race for the school's first playoff berth before dropping its final four games.

In those first eight games, OHS trailed at halftime just one time. With a young nucleus coming back, McCartney said she's looking forward to reading about future successes.

She also has a vested interest in the OHS volleyball program, serving as a volunteer assistant coach the last five years - three of which resulted in playoff berths. McCartney was a setter for OHS and helped instruct that position for volleyball coach Linda McMillan.

"If I can help kids do better with their skills, it's something I feel like I need to give back," McCartney said. "The hardest part about this is I'm leaving good people. Not just my family, but lots of great friends and co-workers. But it's time to kind of spread my wings and try something different. I just think it's time for me to try something new."