Allegheny College Athletics

Known for playing a key role in the Gators winning the 1990 NCAA Division III National Championship, David LaCarte put together a prolific career in the Allegheny defensive secondary between 1987-90.

A native of Charleroi, Pennsylvania, David was a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter at safety for the Gators.  Second all-time in program history with 14 interceptions, he earned a host of accolades during his playing career.  He was a three-time First Team All-NCAC selection, an Honorable Mention Pizza Hut All-American in 1989, and was named First Team All-America by Champion in 1990.  In 1993, he was named to the NCAC’s All-Decade Team, recognizing the conference’s finest players between 1983-94.

Serving as team co-captain alongside fellow Hall of Fame inductee John Marzka, David made a pair of memorable plays to keep the Gators’ 1990 NCAA championship run alive.  In the team’s 26-15 win over Mount Union in the first round of the NCAA playoffs, he made a crucial goal line stop late in the fourth quarter to quash the Raiders’ comeback attempt.  In the quarterfinal round of the playoffs, he picked off a pass in the end zone in the waning moments of the game to seal a 31-23 victory over defending national champion Dayton.  

Over his four-year career, the Gators went a combined 36-8, and he helped lead a defense that surrendered fewer than 14 points in 27 different games, while posting five shutouts.  

For the past 24 years, David had worked alongside his brothers John, Joe, Mike, and Dan, to build a successful business, Model Cleaners, based in his hometown of Charleroi.

David and his wife Dana, who reside in Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, have two sons, Benjamin (13) and Adam (10).  Aside from work, he enjoys spending time with his family, which includes the activities of baseball, basketball, and swimming.