2017
Chad Carithers (Class of '98)
The most decorated College of Charleston men’s soccer player in program history, Carithers still ranks first all-time in career goals (41) and career points (103). A two-time first team all-conference selection, he ranked No. 2 nationally in scoring with 20 goals and 14 assists while leading the Cougars to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament in 1994 – just falling short of reaching the Final Four to UCLA. The team’s NCAA Tournament run included wins over Charlotte and NC State and remains the furthest any soccer team has advanced in postseason play at The College. Tabbed to the 1994 Soccer America MVP National Team recognizing the top players in the country equivalent to the first-and second-team All-America squads, Carithers also led the Cougars to back-to-back Trans America Athletic Conference (TAAC) championship titles in 1993 and 1994 and was crowned tournament MVP in 1994. Along with career records, the two-time team MVP still holds single-season records for points (54), goals (20) and assists (14) as well as ranks second in points per game (2.16), goals per game (0.88) and game-winning goals (6). Carithers went on to play for the United States Under-23 National Team and earned two caps for the full U.S. National Team in 1994. He played professionally in Japan for Albiereo Niigatta (1995) and in the U.S. for the South Carolina Shamrocks (1996), Charleston Battery (1997-98) and Raleigh Express (1999-2000). Carithers earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1998.
