Following Bloomfield High’s 34-12 win over Barringer on Oct. 13, at Foley Field, the Bengals head football coach, Mike Carter, was reminded that the victory was the 140th of his career.
Carter smiled, then said, “how about those Yankees?”
And that was the typical response of a man who avoids credit for his successes, like the plague, while deflecting that same credit to his players, and assistant coaches.
But 140 wins is pretty impressive. It speaks to a career spanning seven United States presidents and 33 seasons. It speaks of consistency and devotion to his school, players and family.
You see, Mike Carter is not only the head coach football coach, and educator, at Bloomfield High, he’s also a proud graduate of the school, as are his five siblings, and five children.
When told that the recent victory was the 140th in Carter’s career, Bloomfield assistant coach Ed Sadloch, who knows a little something about winning high school football games in Essex County, was quick to respond.
“That’s an impressive number,” said Sadloch, a winner, himself, of well over 200 games, including a tremendous career at Cedar Grove. “It speaks of commitment and pride.”
And yes, in the case of Mike Carter, it also speaks of consistency.
He is, without question, that one constant, in a world of changing players and coaches. Carter won his first game as a head coach for the Bengals, on Sept. 27, 1991, in a 12-0 season-opening win, at Foley Field, against Montclair.
George H.W. Bush was president, the Chicago Bulls had just won the first of an eventual 6 NBA titles, the Pittsburgh Penguins were Stanley Cup champions, and the Giants had won a Super Bowl, 20-19, over the Buffalo Bills, a few months earlier.
Mike and his soon-to-be wife, Gerise (Geri to most) would be married a year later, and a few years after that, the couple welcomed their first child, Michael Jr. Four more children would follow, in about seven years.
Today, two of Mike’s sons, Michael Jr. and Daniel, are coaches on his football staff.
He takes incredible pride in his children’s accomplishments, both as students, athletes and a musician. They’re all talented in the classroom, which he attributes to their mother. And they’re all pretty good athletes, whether it be in baseball, softball or track.
Life offers many challenges, both wonderful and trying. But Mike Carter never wavered. Again, he’s that constant, both as a son to marvelous parents, a devoted husband, a brother to five siblings, a dad to five great kids, an uncle and cousin, and a father figure to so many high school students, and athletes, past and present.
And yet, when he has the moment to cherish the 140th win of his career, not to mention 204 victories as Bloomfield’s varsity baseball coach, from 1991-2001, including the Bengals last GNT crown, to date, he prefers a metaphor to his favorite team, the Yankees.
He took the time, after the win, to laud Barringer’s head football coach, Dave McCombs, a long-time friend of his, dating back to their college days. Before last Friday’s game, when McCombs and his team arrived at Foley Field, Mike wanted to make sure someone would take a photo of McCombs, Sadloch and he.
Why? Because friendship and respect for the art of coaching, is something that Carter comprehends, and never takes for granted.
In 2012, Carter would lead the Bengals to a sectional championship game, at MetLife Stadium, against the the program’s biggest rival, Montclair. Mike Jr. was the team’s quarterback that season, but couldn’t play in the title game because of an injury.
The Mounties won a thriller, 16-13, in double overtime. Bloomfield would finish 9-3 that season, the team’s best mark, so far, in Carter’s career.
Afterward, there was Carter, making sure to congratulate every Mounties player on a good game.
When he was inducted into the Bloomfield High Hall of Fame in 2023, he had the audience laughing and shedding some tears, sometimes in the same thought, in discussing a life of happiness and some adversity.
Yes, that one constant.
Success is never about him, it’s about those around him. However, a loss on the field, is about him. He takes responsibility for those, and doesn’t deflect it to anyone else.
He is that constant.
While his players enjoyed a post-game win in the locker room on Oct. 13, Carter sat by the door leading out of the locker room, because he wanted to make sure that every player’s helmet was properly checked. When one player said he hadn’t played that particular game, Carter said “doesn’t matter, I need to see that helmet.”
Why the concern about helmets? Because the last thing Mike Carter ever wanted was for a player to suffer a head injury that could easily have been avoided, with a simple follow up, and making sure the shell was properly affixed to the helmet.
Carter loves to say “pay it forward”. He is always making sure others are okay, and speaks volumes when it comes to asking for help. Paying it forward is sometimes a quick story, or 10, to share. It speaks of a good deed, whether it be helping to rebuild a house, or a fund raiser for a friend who has struggled with a health issue, or just being there to listen.
Mike Carter never underestimates his role as a friend. He takes that seriously. He learned from his parents, Patricia, and the late Robert Carter. He loves to tell stories of going to ball games, as a kid at Yankee Stadium, especially with his siblings and his dad.
If you ever take a ride with him in his car, he’ll point to the home in Bloomfield where he grew up, and a bunch of memories with boyhood friends.
An animal lover, Carter loves to hang out with his dogs and take them for walks in the Bloomfield community he adores.
And don’t get him started on his love for old-time television shows, namely ‘The Three Stooges’, ‘The Honeymooners’ and ‘The Odd Couple’.
Ask him about a good concert, and he’ll go on and on, from Country music to Rock ‘N Roll, and some of the venues he’s attended with friends, to see the shows.
After every football game at Foley Field, win or lose, the Bloomfield High band plays the school’s alma mater, and Carter stands at attention, with his hat over his heart, while his players follow the coach’s lead, with their helmets off, in a sign of respect.
Geri and Mike’s eldest son, Michael Jr., himself recently married, is so proud of his dad.
“I’m happy for him, and all that he’s accomplished in his career,” said Michael. “Dad eats, sleeps and breathes football, year-round.
“A win always feels good. I’m pretty sure he was breaking down film ’till midnight (after the win over Barringer). He really enjoys what he does.”
Again, that one constant.
Mike has also been devoted to the successes of the Robeson Football Classic, since its inception three decades ago.
Whether victory number 141 comes next week, next month, or next year, Mike Carter will be there, for his players, while deflecting accolades afforded him, with the simplicity of swatting a mosquito in the height of summer.
He is, what he is. And he’s not going to change, because everything Mike Carter has done, over a life of 62 years, and running, is about being there for those he cares about.
So, from one writer to a man of huge integrity, a sincere thank you, Coach, for allowing me to be a part of your life.
And whether you want to hear it, or not, 140 is a nice number.
Looking forward to writing about many more.
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