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Joe Carter
Boys Head Coach
Meet Coach Carter: Joe Carter came to Spain Park High School after a very successful tenure at John Carroll Catholic High School. In his tenure at John Carroll Coach Carter’s teams won six AHSAA Boy’s Soccer State Championships, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000. He was the Region Three Coach of the Year in 1998. Region Three covers the southeast United States and was the NFHS Coach of the Year for Alabama in 2000. Coach Carter was twice named Coach of the Year by the Birmingham News and has been the Metro Coach of the year three times. In his high school coaching career Coach Carter has amassed an overall record of 294-124-37.
Joe Carter began playing soccer in high school at Jupiter Christian High School in Jupiter, Florida. When he graduated he went on to play in college at Warner Southern College located in Lake Wales, Florida. After four years he transferred to Judson College in Elgin, Illinois and finished his education there graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies and Physical Education.
Coach Carter came to Spain Park with the purpose of building a quality high school soccer program that will make the school, parents and players proud. The Jaguars made the play-offs their first year, 2001, with only freshman and sophomore players. In 2006 the Jaguars returned to the play-offs with a record of 15-8-2, having played in 6-A classification. In 2008 Spain Park made it to the AHSAA Final Four with a season record of 20-7-3. There we met up with our area rivals, Oak Mountain. The boys played their hearts out but lost 3-2 in sudden death penalty kicks to the eventual State Champions.
The Jaguars play in the toughest soccer area in the state of Alabama. With Vestavia, Hoover, Oak Mountain, Homewood and Gardendale as their opponents you can easily see why many consider this area the most challenging. Coach Carter and his wife Sarah both teach at Spain Park, reside in Birmingham and have two children. Caitlyn (16), is a junior at SPHS and Devin (14) is a freshman at SPHS.
Robert Starr
SPHS Girls Soccer Head Coach
Meet Coach Starr: Robert Starr begins his 14th season in girls high school soccer. Prior to arriving at Spain Park High School, Starr coached at Hoover High School, taking the Buccaneers to the 6A State Championship game in 1999 and receiving, the Birmingham News Coach of the Year award. The next two seasons CoachStarr worked with Vestavia Hills High School Girls Soccer, taking the team to the 6A State Championship game in both seasons and winning the school’s first state championship in girls soccer in 2001.
Coach Starr started the Spain Park Girls Soccer program in the spring of 2002 and established a team goal to win a state championship with the first senior class at the high school. In 2004, that goal was realized as Spain Park defeated rival and previously undefeated Oak Mountain 3-2 in the 6A State Finals. The season was a “dream season” and laid the foundation for Spain Park Girls Soccer to become one of the powers in girls high school soccer in Alabama. The 2007 season saw the Lady Jaguars return to the playoffs and made a trip to Huntsville for the Final Four. The team came ever so close to another state championship, but lost to the eventual champion in penalty kicks in the semi-finals. The program prides itself on hard work and a competitive attitude in one of the most difficult areas in the state.
Coach Starr is very active in club soccer coaching and has had the privilege to work with several Alabama state championship teams on both girls and boys side (including Hoover Phantoms ’85, Jets ’88, BUSA Jets ’91 and BUSA Lady Jets ’93). He currently serves as head coach of the Birmingham United U.S. Development Academy U-18 team and assists with the U-16 team. Coach Starr also coaches the BUSA ’93 Elite team.
Robert Starr played his high school career in Birmingham at W.A. Berry High School (currently Hoover High School). After his prep career, Starr was a two- year starting goalkeeper for the UAB Blazers. Starr began his coaching career as the men’s assistant coach for UAB for seven seasons and was a part of UAB’s Elite 8 run in the NCAA Tournament in 1999.
Coach Starr, his wife Carmen and son Cole (8) reside in Pelham, Alabama.
Jonathan Weimer
Girls Assistant Coach
Meet Coach Weimer: Jonathan Weimer joined the Spain Park Girls Soccer program in 2004 and was a key part to the team’s first state championship in school history. As acting head coach of the girls soccer program in 2009, Coach Weimer led the team to the 6A State Championship. Coach Weimer adds a tremendous attitude and loads of experience to training the girls team.
Coach Weimer played his high school career for Hoover High School and continued his soccer playing days at UAB where he was a two year starter and captain of the team his senior year. Coach Weimer also had the honor of playing for the U-17 U.S. National Team in 1999, a feat that is rare for a male player from Alabama.
Coach Weimer and his wife Suzanna reside in Hoover, Alabama.
Matt Hall
SPHS Boys Assistant Coach
Meet Coach Hall: Matt Hall came to Spain Park High School after a successful coaching stint at Pleasant Grove High School. During his three year coaching tenure at Pleasant High School, his teams qualified twice for the AHSAA state playoffs and reached their first championship game in the 2002 Lakeshore Shootout (Division B). He also started an adult league team so his graduated players could continue to participate in the sport they had come to love.
Coach Hall began his playing career in the Birmingham area in youth soccer and made the ODP pool during his high school career. He attended Huffman High School in Birmingham and was elected team captain. He was also awarded the Coach’s Award his senior year. After graduating high school, he attended Samford University in Birmingham, AL, and presided over the Samford Soccer Club. He led the team in the Southeast Collegiate Soccer League and played against other Southern public universities such as University of Alabama, Auburn University, University of Tennessee, and Ole Miss. Upon completion of his course work at Samford, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education Cum Laude with a concentration in social science.
Coach Hall was asked by Coach Joe Carter to join his staff at Spain Park High School in 2004.
He resides in Calera, Alabama.
Howard Furnas
Faculty Liaison
Meet Mr. Furnas: Howard Furnas has been the Faculty Representative for Spain Park Girls' Soccer since 2001, when the school opened. He first became interested in soccer when his son, who is now a junior in college, began playing soccer at the age of 5. He spent eight years coaching youth soccer with the Briarwood and Hoover Soccer Clubs. His son was a two time All State selection at Indian Springs School and played one year of varsity soccer at Washington University in St. Louis. Mr. Furnas now teaches Spanish and is the AP Coordinator at Spain Park High School. His favorite soccer memory is the 2004 State Championship when Spain Park defeated previously undefeated Oak Mountain 3-2 to win the State championship.
Mr. Furnas and his wife, Pam, reside in Hoover, Alabama.
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