Ken Carter
Kenny Ray Carter is an American business owner, education activist and former high school basketball coach. Carter attended college at San Francisco State, then Contra Costa College, and finally George Fox University, where he played basketball.[1]
Biography
Coming from an abusive family, Carter was raised strictly on academics, but found a liking in sports. As a basketball coach, he maintained that his athletes must take their studies seriously, as good academic performance would give them access to college and other opportunities in life. This belief was put to the test when, as a high school basketball coach at Richmond High School, he locked out his undefeated team for not honoring academic and behavioral contracts. While the community was outraged at first, public opinion eventually changed, and Carter was praised for his determined emphasis on prioritizing good values for his team. His approach also bore results: every one of his players at Richmond, where he coached from 1997 to 2002, graduated.[2]
The story of the 1999 season is the basis for the 2005 film Coach Carter, with Carter played by Samuel L. Jackson.
Carter continues to coach sports teams, except basketball. Currently, he is the coach of the Slamball team Rumble. He led Rumble to their first-ever Slamball Cup victory in 2001/2002. Carter has said that the greatest moment in his life was when he carried the Olympic Torch for the 2002 Winter Olympics.[citation needed]
He has a son named Damien (who played for his father at Richmond, and was portrayed by Robert Ri'chard in the movie) and currently resides in Northern California.
In the fall of 2005, Carter opened up an impact academy in the town of Marlin, Texas. The academy would also offer dorms on campus for over sixty of the 150 boys in grades 8–12 who were facing poverty situations. Overall a school day would be 12 hours, with classes and sports including baseball, basketball, and football. The campus also includes a shop run by students, a barber shop and laundry facilities.[3]
Slamball coaching record
| Team | Year | Regular Season | Post Season | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Result | |||
| Rumble | 2002 | 7 | 2 | .778 | 1st | 2 | 0 | Champions | |
| Rumble | 2003 | 9 | 1 | .900 | 1st | 0 | 1 | Lost in Semi-Finals | |
| Rumble | 2008 | 9 | 3 | .750 | 1st | 1 | 1 | Lost in Final | |
| Total | 25 | 6 | .806 | - | 3 | 2 | 1 Championship | ||
See also
- Coach Carter Impact Academy
- Coach Carter
- Inspirational/motivational instructors/mentors portrayed in films