East Central University Athletics

McCarty, who is headed into his ninth season (11th overall) of his second stint as the Tiger head coach, has driven the program on a path of success in the past seven seasons.
 
2016 saw the fifth player in as many years to earn a spot on a National Football League team, as David Moore was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks as the eighth pick in the seventh round (226 overall) in the 2017 Draft.  He was the first drafted since 2013 when Armonty Bryant was the 11^th pick in the seventh round by the Cleveland Browns.  Moore finished his career with 2,776 receiving yards and 35 TDs, with both setting new career record for the Tigers.
 
In 2015 the Tigers saw the trend of all-American’s continue, as Moore made it six-straight seasons with an all-America selection.  Moore earned Don Hansen All-America Offensive Third Team honors after becoming the first ECU receiver to record over 1,000 yards in a single season (1,079).  Moore also set school single season records for receiving touchdowns (13) and career receiving TDs (25).
 
Moore helped the offense set a new Tiger record for 4,942 offensive yards and 3,541 passing yards during the 6-5 season.  The team finished with 10 All-Great American Conference picks and six all-region honorees.
 
The year ended with the fourth player, in as many years, earning a spot on an NFL team, with Kevin Bowen signing a free agency contract with the Washington Redskins.
 
The 2014 season saw ECU earn it first trip to the postseason since 1993 when they claimed the NAIA National Championship and the first Bowl Game appearance since 1975 when the played Henderson State in the Bicentennial Bowl.  The Tigers finished the regular season with a 6-4 overall record and then played in the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl against Texas A&M Commerce.
 
The 2014 campaign also saw 11 players earn Great American Conference honors, with three also earning all-region and all-America honors.  Junior Travis Hening led the pack of postseason honors by being named to the Associated Press Little All-America Offensive Third Team, AFCA DII Coaches’ All-America First Team, Beyond Sports Network and Don Hansen All-Super Region 3 Third teams and All-GAC First Team honors.
 
The season then ended with a third player in three years earning a spot on an NFL roster, as senior Qumain Black signed a free agency deal with the Chicago Bears.
 
In 2013, ECU finished 5-5 overall and in the GAC, earning a tie for sixth in the standings.  The Tigers saw nine players earn All-GAC honors, while senior Fred Gaines and junior Qumain Black were also named to Don Hansen All-Super Region Three teams and Gaines was named to the Beyond Sports Network All-America Second Team.
 
The Tigers also saw their second teammate join the ranks of the NFL in as many seasons when Caleb Holley earned a spot on the Buffalo Bills roster after being invited to minicamp.  Holley joined former teammate Armonty Bryant in the NFL.  Bryant was drafted by the Cleveland Browns after the 2012 season and will start his second season in the NFL.
 
2012 saw the Tigers earn their second-straight winning season, with a 6-5 overall record and a 4-4 mark (T-4th) in the GAC.  ECU was pushed into the winning season column with an amazing come-from-behind 31-17 win over arch-rival Southeastern.
 
The season also saw 14 All-GAC selections, two All-America picks and an all-region honoree.  Senior Armonty Bryant was named to the AFCA Division II Coaches’ All-America Team, The Oklahoman College All-Star Football Team Defensive Player of the Year, played in the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Challenge and was the fifth Tiger to be taken in the NFL Draft.  Fellow senior Jason Catchings also earned BSN All-America Team honors, while junior Fred Gaines was a Daktronics All-Region #3 honoree.
 
In 2011, ECU experienced the most wins since the 1993 National Championship season, going 8-3 overall and 6-2 in the new GAC, good enough for third place in the final league standings.
 
That came after the Tigers went 5-6 overall and 5-1 in claiming the Lone Star Conference North Division crown in 2010. McCarty was awarded the LSC North Division Coach of the Year in 2010 for his efforts.
 
McCarty coached two All-Americans in two seasons in Dontae Smith and Armonty Bryant.
 
Seven of his players were named to the All-GAC First Team in 2011, five were placed on the All-GAC Second Team and five more were honorable mention selections.
 
McCarty has a career head coaching record of 65-72, including a 45-51 record at ECU. He was the Tiger head coach in 2004 and 2005 before spending three seasons as the top assistant at Kansas State from 2006-08.
 
His first head coaching job came at traditionally-beleaguered Tabor College (Kan.) that had only 14 players in the program when he got there and went 0-10 in 2000.
 
However, his ability to rebuild programs quickly took off as his 2001 Tabor squad improved significantly at 5-5, followed by a 6-4 campaign in 2002 and an outstanding 9-2 finish in 2003. That season set a then school-record for wins in a season (the school had only one winning season from 1967 until his arrival) and led to an NAIA No. 15 national ranking (the highest ever at the school at that time).
 
For his efforts, McCarty was named 2003 KCAC Coach of the Year and NAIAFootball.net National Coach of the Year.
 
That led to his first stint as head coach at ECU in 2004 and 2005 as he guided to the Tigers to a 9-11 record in those two seasons, including a 6-4 finish in his first, the only winning season at ECU in the previous 10 years.
 
During his first two-year stay with the Tigers, McCarty coached 30 conference-recognized players and 15 who achieved academic accolades from the LSC. Defensive end Justin Brown, who currently plays in the Canadian Football League, made six All-American teams under McCarty’s watch and linebacker James Callins was the 2005 LSC North Academic Player of the Year, along with being selected as an Arthur Ashe All-American.
 
Following that two-year stint at ECU, McCarty accepted the position of assistant head coach/offensive line coach at Kansas State, where he served for three seasons. His 2007 offensive line was rated in the top 25 in the nation statistically in fewest sacks allowed. The K-State Wildcats had the No. 1 red zone offense in the Big 12 that same year.
 
At Kansas State, he coached six all-conference players along the offensive line, including Jordan Bedore, who was on the Remington Trophy watch list and Greg Wafford, who signed with the NFL’s Washington Redskins.
 
McCarty was also part of one bowl team (Texas Bowl) at K-State in 2006, as the Wildcats upset the No. 4 and No. 7 ranked teams during his stay in Manhattan. His offensive lines paved the way for quarterback Josh Freeman, receiver Jordy Nelson and company to set numerous school records.
 
His previous coaching stints before Tabor included: assistant coach at Greenville College in Illinois (1998-99), offensive coordinator and head track coach at Southwest Baptist University in Missouri (1994-97), offensive coordinator at Dodge City Community College in Kansas (1990-93), assistant at Middle Tennessee State (1988), graduate assistant at the University of Kansas (1987), assistant at Hays High School in Kansas (1986) and student assistant at his alma mater Fort Hays State (1984-85).
 
McCarty was a captain and starter for the Fort Hays State team that went 8-3 in 1983. He also played one season at Memphis State University in 1982 after spending two seasons at Dodge City Community College, where he was an all-conference selection in 1981 and was twice named defensive player of the week.
 
His wife is Jillian and they have two daughters – Bailey and Kendall.
 
McCarty’s Career Record
School             Season             Record
Tabor College   2000                 0-10
Tabor College   2001                 5-5
Tabor College   2002                 6-4
Tabor College   2003                 9-2
East Central      2004                 6-4
East Central      2005                 3-7
East Central      2009                 0-11
East Central      2010                 5-6
East Central      2011                 8-3
East Central      2012                 6-5
East Central      2013                 5-5
East Central      2014                 6-5
East Central      2015                 6-5
East Central      2016                 1-10
Total                                        66-82