Steve Carcarey intended to put his Associate in Applied Science degree in Criminal Justice to use after graduating from Montgomery County Community College; however, a series of opportunities shifted his plans.

At just 19 years old, in 1989, a baseball coach, Ray Chillano, from his alma mater, Bishop Kenrick High School, gave him the opportunity to come onboard, coaching a sport that Carcarey fondly calls “my life.”

“He opened the door for me in so many ways,” Carcarey said. “Without him, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today.”

Then, Sal Melito, the postmaster at the Collegeville post office, offered him a job working the early morning shift.

“Basically, I never slept,” Carcarey said. “I would go in early and coach.”

For the next 23 years, Carcarey continued working in tandem for the post office and coaching baseball at Bishop Kenrick High School, then in subsequent years at Mt. Carmel American Legion, Norristown Area Senior High School, Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic High School, and Widener University.

In November 2022 Carcarey was inducted into the Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame.

“That was unbelievable,” he said. “Think about all the names that are in there. And now my name’s among them.”

In April, following a ceremony, Carcarey’s plaque was added to Montgomery County Community College’s Health Sciences Building.

Carcarey said he was “excited” to come back to the College for the plaque installation.

“You get a good education at Montco. I absolutely loved being a part of Montco,” Carcarey said. “I encourage kids to this day (to consider attending Montco).”

Early inspiration

While at Montco, Carcarey received early coaching inspiration and learned the importance of perseverance from Coaches Lou Lombardo and James Randolph, who taught him “discipline and work ethic.”

“They were both big influences in my life,” he said.

Their lessons came in handy early on in his coaching career. While working as the junior varsity coach at Bishop Kenrick, Carcarey applied for the head varsity coach position – and was turned down.

“It really woke me up and made me persistent,” Carcarey recalled, adding that when the position opened again the following year, he was ready for their questions, crushed the interview and got the job. “I always wanted to coach my high school.”

College-bound coach

Carcarey spent the last eight years of his coaching career serving as head coach at Widener University.

“I had no idea that that would ever come to be,” he said. “I never imagined that I would come to the next level.”

Getting the collegiate coaching position was a bit of an uphill battle. Widener coaches are required to have a four-year degree. Fortunately, Carcarey had his associate’s degree from Montco.

“He fought for me,” Carcarey said of David Duda, the driving force behind his last coaching position. “He put his job on the line for me. It was pretty humbling.”

In his eight seasons, Carcarey led the Pride to seven straight Commonwealth Conference tournaments, winning the title in 2010. Before phoning his parents to share news of the victory, Carcarey first called Duda to tell him what they both already knew – that his education from Montco was more than enough to help him succeed as a coach.

Moving on from coaching

One day coming home from Widener, Carcarey said to himself that he no longer wanted to do it.

“I spent 23 years with everybody else’s kids,” he said, adding that he missed milestones in both his daughter’s and his son’s lives. “I’m not getting that time back.”

Upon retiring from the post office and coaching in 2011, Carcarey joined his wife, Patrizia, in running the family business, Collegeville Italian Bakery. As co-owner, Carcarey strives to “be a teacher rather than a boss.”

“Don’t just get by in life,” he advises. “Make something of yourself.”

Much like his father instilled strong work ethics in him, Carcarey impresses upon young people the importance of being dedicated and committed.

“Don’t say tomorrow,” he said. “Do the task today.”

And as a nod to his coaching days, Carcarey remains steadfast in his belief that “You’re only as good as your staff.”