From Bogota, Columbia to the NCAA Final Four to NIU, head women’s soccer coach Carrie Barker has had many experiences in her life.

With the season winding down, the Northern Star got a chance to sit down with Barker, a four-year letter winner while playing at the University of Wisconsin, and talk about her long journey.

Northern Star: Out of all your playing experiences what has helped you the most as a head coach?
Carrie Barker: I knew that I was going to be coaching for life and I’ve had some of the best coaches in the country. I’ve experienced playing at the highest level. We went to the final four and I know what it takes to be a champion; the hard work, the dedication and the commitment.

KN: Is there one event you can look back on and say “wow, I want my players to be able to experience that?”
CB: I would say the Final Four. Definitely, the national championship.

KN: How long were you an assistant coach at Michigan and Wisconsin?
CB: I was at Michigan for seven seasons and then at Wisconsin for three.

KN: What experiences at those schools prepared you to be a head coach here?
CB: At Michigan, I just had gotten there in 1997 and it was the first senior class that we had brought in. I was catching it on the rebuilding process. We won several Big Ten championships, the Sweet 16 and the Final Eight so I was able to experience the building of a program.

KN: What has been the biggest change in becoming a head coach?
CB: I don’t know if I could pick just one thing. I was an assistant for so many years that I feel like I have the experience of so many different situations. I don’t feel like there is one particular change.

KN: What are some of things you have discovered in DeKalb?
CB: Oh gosh, there are many. First, the people are extremely supportive within the department and the community. I’ve gone to several great restaurants.

KN: Any favorites?
CB: Tapalaluna, it’s a tapas bar downtown. It’s actually really good. There’s a Thai restaurant I really like. Sushi. I like them all.

KN: When you want to get away from soccer what do you like to do?
CB: My husband and I eat, sleep and breathe soccer so right now I don’t get away.

KN: What does your husband do?
CB: He coaches club soccer. He’s English, so it’s the English style and my South American style sort of blending together.

KN: Do you ever find yourselves clashing?
CB: Definitely. At the end of the day we don’t have to agree on everything, but at the end of the day we agree on the major principles.

KN: You were born in Columbia. When did you come to the United States?
CB: I came to the States when I was seven. I was adopted and I have amazing parents. They went to Columbia and brought me over. I have an amazing family and am really fortunate that I have been given the opportunity to live in the United States and coach soccer.

KN: How close of attention did you play to the Olympic selections?
CB: I’ve been coaching at the Olympic development level. I was watching very close. I was disappointed that we didn’t get the bid, because it would have been a great situation for the university and the community. It was actually one of my selling points when I was recruiting. I was making the point that if we got the bid it put us in more of a spotlight on the national map.

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