23- Mike McGinty
If there’s one area that has been a consistent strength for the majority of the Richmond Kickers 30 year history, it is in goal. We’ve already seen one goalkeeper appear on this list, and Mike McGinty is the next. Having spent five seasons in Richmond, McGinty was the first to place a long term claim on the position, leading the Kickers to success in the late 90s and early 2000s. A consistent presence at or near the top of the A-League goalkeeping charts for the entirety of his time with the Kickers, Mike McGinty comes in at #23 in our countdown.
McGinty joined the Kickers initially in 1997 following a successful collegiate career at Wake Forest and a couple of years playing for the Greensboro Dynamo. He split time with Alex Deegan in his first two seasons with the club before taking over as the clear #1 in 1999 after finishing second in the league in 1998 in Goals Against Average. McGinty continued to finish in the top 10 in the league throughout his time in Richmond, including the 2000 season in which he once again was second, allowing under one goal per game. Overall, McGinty appeared over 80 times for the Kickers, providing sure hands in the back as the team consistently battled for division and league championships.
Mike also nearly made history at City Stadium in 2001 (I think, memory is hazy and google isn’t helping much). While McGinty specialized in keeping the ball out of the net, on one occasion, he nearly put the ball in the goal. A long ball (I think it was a punt, but again, hazy memory here) got over and past the entire opposition, and only the crossbar kept McGinty from becoming what I believe would be the only Kickers goalkeeper to score during official play. If only ESPN+ was around back then…
After the 2001 season, McGinty joined DC United, returning to MLS after cups of coffee with Columbus and Chicago during his early years with the Kickers. He retired following 2003, entering the coaching ranks full-time. He previously spent time as a volunteer coach at VCU and UVA, and joined the Cavalier staff as an assistant until 2009. From 2010-2017, he served as the head coach for St Louis University, winning the Atlantic 10 regular season title twice and conference tournament once. McGinty is currently an assistant coach for League One rival North Carolina FC.
