Sanderson’s Bob Catapano Named to Hall of Fame
March 13, 2009 - Sanderson High Athletic Director Bob Catapano will be inducted into the North Carolina Athletic Directors Association Hall of Fame later this month. In his office, Bob Catapano has photos, including this one of his 1989 team. |
 Sanderson Spartan Soccer team earned this 1996 Regional Champs Trophy. |
Catapano is remembered as the varsity men’s soccer coach for 20 years from 1977 to 1996 at Sanderson High School. Catapano’s teams from 1982 to 1987 contributed to what was, at the time, a national record of 103 consecutive games without a loss.
Asked how his teams were able to achieve that streak of wins, Catapano said, “You have some of the best players around. You build a program where players are preparing to participate in it before they even get here. Many of those kids were single sport athletes who played soccer year-round.”
Under his guidance, the Sanderson soccer team had an overall record of 363-44-21 (.873 winning percentage) with 195 shutouts. Sanderson won nine NCHSAA State Championships, two NCHSAA Co-Championships and 17 conference championships. He was inducted into the North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame in 1999.
During his career, Catapano coached 54 all state players, 6 State Players of the Year and 13 All-Americans.
“Its great to talk to them,” said Catapano. “They have memories about things that are wonderful, things that I have forgotten. Certainly, what I remember back in those days were just when I thought all the great things that could have ever happened in a coach’s career were behind me, the next great thing happened. I had more success in my coaching career than any coach rightfully ought to have.”
The Sanderson soccer teams included Parade All-American Caleb Norkus, Morehead Scholar Michael Bucy and Clark Brisson who held scoring records back in the 1980s.
Catapano began his 36-year career with WCPSS as a math teacher at Martin Junior High and transferred to Sanderson as a math teacher and soccer coach in 1977. Since 1983, he has served as Sanderson’s Athletic Director.
Catapano arrived in Wake County in 1969 when he left his home in Glen Rock, New Jersey to enroll as a student at NC State University where he was a walk-on player for the NCSU soccer team. He was a four year starter who had what he describes as “an incredibly lackluster collegiate career!”
He says one of the greatest feelings was a spectacular play that surprised even the student who made it and resulted in a last second win.
“It was a younger brother of a star player who scored the winning goal in a state play off game,” said Catapano. “Maybe there’s a picture of the moment, but it’s frozen in my mind with him jumping up in the air on a great goal and raising one arm over his head and having that feeling of euphoria.”
Catapano will be honored at the NCADA Hall of Fame Banquet in Wilmington on March 31.
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