Through the hallowed halls of Cameron Indoor Stadium, past Duke's national championship trophies and hidden around a corner lies an office. Well, it might better be described as a room that could double as an undergraduate's summer storage space. There isn't a nameplate on the door, nor any makeshift stencils to announce who works here. And the narrow door must be opened carefully so as not collide with the desk and the two chairs available for visitors.
It is the office of Carla Overbeck, assistant coach of the Duke women's soccer team. An office that could resemble any non-revenue coach's office, until one considers Overbeck's other career-one of the best defenders in the history of women's soccer.
For the last eight years, Overbeck has dominated her sport on an unparalleled scale. And this summer in Atlanta, one of the United States' best hopes for Olympic gold lies at the feet of Overbeck. As captain of the U.S. National Team, Overbeck will lead a veteran team in the debut of women's soccer as an Olympic medal sport.
"In soccer circles, Carla Overbeck is a household name," U.S. National Team head coach Tony DiCicco said. "However, the soccer world is relatively small... Carla is one of the best leaders in the world. She leads by example. If I was starting a defense, she would be my number one pick because of her leadership and her understanding of the game."
"Overbeck never or hardly ever panics," Roger Rogers, editor of Women's Soccer World said. "Her composure makes her one of the best defenders to play the game."
After examining Overbeck's track record, it becomes pretty clear why many consider her among the game's elite. While at North Carolina, she was a three-time All-American, helping the Tar Heels win four national titles with an 89-0-6 record. All of this came after winning two national titles with her club team.
But this Dallas, Texas native was just warming up. In 1988 while still a junior at UNC, she began training with the U.S. National Team. And in China during 1991, the world met Carla Overbeck, as the U.S. won the World Cup with a defense that allowed only five goals in six games. Besides captaining the 1996 national team, Overbeck also serves as the team's ironhorse. Before this year she had played 3,482 consecutive minutes against 18 different national teams in six different countries. This year Overbeck has relaxed a bit, averaging only 84 of 90 possible minutes in Olympic warmup games.
"We feel that we have one of the best defenses in the world, and Carla is a critical part of that," said April Heinrichs, current national team assistant coach and captain of the 1991 U.S. World Cup team. "She has a tremendous defensive presence and ability to organize us. Without Carla, we are kind of like a boat without a rudder."
Following the 1991 World Cup at the age of 24, Overbeck's career changed directions, as she added the title of coach to her list of soccer credentials. Overbeck signed on at Duke, becoming an assistant coach for the women's soccer program in the fall of 1992.
Perhaps not so coincidentally, that year the Blue Devils became a national power, reaching the national finals. Ask Duke head coach Bill Hempen why he hired Overbeck, and a blank stare overcomes his face only to be followed by the question, "Why wouldn't you hire her?" And when Hempen discusses his assistant coach, it is her personality that he usually ends up talking about. Overbeck has won six national title rings and one world championship ring, but she wears only her wedding band.
"Unless someone told me that she was an Olympian. I wouldn't know it," Hempen said. "She has no ego. The kids are in awe of her. I am in awe of her. But she won't let that be part of our relationship. She wants to be coach Overbeck, just Carla."
"She is the kind of person that you want to call your sister, that you want to call your friend, that you want to call captain of the United States Olympic team," Heinrichs said.
It is that combination of her personality and accomplishments that make her more than your average assistant coach on and off the field. Senior Mandy Lehr, captain of the Blue Devil women's soccer team, noted that having Overbeck on Duke's staff was definitely a plus in the recruiting process. When Overbeck works with players outside of the presence of Hempen, the expected dropoff in intensity that stems from the lack of the head coach does not occur. Consequently, Hempen and Overbeck coach from more of a team perspective than a hierarchal one.
"She knows that there are some decisions that he makes, but I think that he looks at her more as an equal than as a subordinate," Lehr said. "They balance each other very well."
However, asking Lehr to define Carla Overbeck is akin to watching a kid come downstairs on Christmas morning to find presents from Santa Claus sitting underneath the tree. Her eyes widen, followed by a long pause, only to be concluded with the word "amazing."
The time commitment required by the national team has placed a strain on Overbeck, though. This year she missed the Blue Devils' spring season because of qualifying matches that required her to fly all over the world. She seriously considered retiring after the 1991 Cup when she joined the Blue Devil staff, but Hempen is not about to stand in the way of a world-class athlete pursuing her dreams and possibly winning a gold medal. Consequently, support from Duke has helped Overbeck balance the two jobs.
Last year in Sweden, things took a surprising turn, as the favored United States finished third in the World after losing to Norway in the semifinals. Overbeck and her teammates view the 1996 Olympics as a chance for redemption.
"Just the meaning of the word-Olympics," Overbeck said. "It possesses such an unbelievable meaning. Plus, we are going to be playing in our country, on our soil. Most people are not aware of world championships, but everyone knows about the Olympics. An Olympic gold would definitely be the pinnacle of my playing career."
A career that is far from over.
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