Gopher Football
Carter joins the coaching staff this fall in his first full season as an administrative assistant. In this role, Carter will work with offensive tackles and tight ends. “œI am really excited to get the season underway and to start working with the young guys,” Carter said. “œWhen Coach Mason approached me with this opportunity I didn’t even think twice about it. This university and the coaching staff have given me so much and I hope to be able to give back to other players what I have been given.”
For Carter the switch from player to coach is not an easy transition. “œThe first challenge that I need to get over is being so close in age to the players,” Carter explained. “œThere are quite a few guys on this team that I played with and have been friends with. I will definitely still maintain these friendships, but there is a definite line that has to be drawn. Fortunately most of the guys that I was closest to graduated with me and are no longer here, but it is still important to make sure everyone understands my role.”
A coaching career was a path that Carter was always interested in, but it will not be an easy transition for the St. Paul, Minnesota native. “œThe biggest difference so far is the amount of time that I am putting into this team,” he said. “œAs a player I never realized how much time the coaches put into this program. The preparation for each and every practice is amazing and we haven’t really started to break down opposing teams yet. In the short time I have been on the staff, I have learned an entirely new found respect for the coaches.”
Carter is the perfect young coach. He worked his way from walk-on to an honorable mention All-Big Ten performer all the while succeeding in the classroom. A history undergraduate major, Carter is currently pursuing a masters degree in education. While a member of the Gophers, Carter earned the Paul Giel Award for unselfishness and concern for the University of Minnesota and the Neil Fredenburg Award for courage and love of the game.
Carter’s presence on the coaching staff has many of the young guys excited. In-coming freshman tight end, Jack Simmons, is very excited to learn from Carter. “œIt is great having a guy like Coach Carter on the staff,” Simmons said. “œHe will be a great guy to learn from as we know that he knows what we are all going through because he just went through it himself. In addition, he is a great role model for all of us on and off the field.”
Carter is not as confident that the “œrole model” name is appropriate, but he is excited about his current situation. “œI am not sure that I am a role model per se, but I do know that I will treat my coaching position with the same determination and passion that I treated my years as a student-athlete and if nothing else, I will hopefully lead by example.”
And if his path is any indication, a leadership role for Carter will be second nature.