After graduating from high school, McCarty attended the University of Washington where he spent three seasons (1995–1997) on the Huskies soccer team.
In 1998, he elected to not return for a fourth season and went professional with the Major League Soccer (MLS) Project-40 team.
[2] On January 17, 2002, the Columbus Crew SC used the fifth pick in that season's waiver draft to select McCarty.
That team, coached by Clive Charles, went to the Bronze Medal match where it fell 2–0 to Chile.
After retiring from playing, McCarty joined the youth coaching ranks with the California Odyssey of the Super Y-League.