Cavey fulfills his dream to coach Glen Burnie

Baltimore City police officer secures first high school coaching job at alma mater

Shannon Cavey could have pursued any of the soccer head coach openings that popped up over the years.

There was one he was waiting on, though.

Cavey played for Glen Burnie, from which he graduated in 1992. A first-team All-Anne Arundel County selection in his senior year, he always wanted to go back and coach the boys at his alma mater.

After Matt Reed stepped down following the 2017 season, Cavey was promoted from assistant to head coach and will lead the Gophers into the upcoming season.

“My dream was always to coach at my alma mater, either soccer or baseball,” Cavey said. “It means a great deal to me. This was always my dream.”

Cavey, a Severn resident, played baseball and soccer at Glen Burnie. After a four-year stint in the Marine Corps, he began his career as a Baltimore City police officer. The Glen Burnie job is his first as a head coach at the high school level.

“When I played here, I always thought I’d come back as a coach,” Cavey said. “It’s always been a dream of mine to come back to Glen Burnie and coach.”

Cavey and his wife, Kelly, have three sons. Their oldest, Tyler, played soccer and lacrosse at Glen Burnie and followed in his father’s footsteps by joining the Marine Corps. Braeden Cavey is entering his senior year at Glen Burnie, where he plays soccer, basketball and baseball. He’ll cap his high school career playing for his father. He was a second-team All-County selection a year ago.

“I know a lot of people don’t like that, but I don’t have a problem with it,” Shannon Cavey said of coaching his son.

When asked to describe his coaching style, Cavey referred to himself as more of a defensive coach. Glen Burnie struggled to score goals during last year’s two-win season, putting more pressure on the defense.

“It all starts with defense,” Cavey said. “We’ll work from the back forward.”

Cavey, who was president of the Gophers’ booster club for five years, said the team has some strong seniors to go with a group of underclassmen who saw valuable playing time last year. He feels the team has a strong nucleus and can be competitive in the county league.

Cavey, a 21-year veteran of the Baltimore City Police Department, feels his Marine Corps background will help with stressing discipline to his team. The Gophers will begin their season when they host the Copa de Gopher tournament on Sept. 1.

“I am looking forward to getting started,” Cavey said. “I’m ready to do things my own way.”