Ken Carter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ken Carter
Carter giving an interview in 2014
Born	Kenny Ray Carter (1959-01-01) January 1, 1959 (age 66) Fernwood, Mississippi, U.S.
Other names	Coach Carter

Kenny Ray Carter (born on January 1, 1959) is an American business owner, a champion for education, and a former high school basketball coach. He is widely known as Coach Carter because of a famous movie made about his life.

Coach Carter's Story

Early Life and Education

Kenny Ray Carter grew up in a family that supported him. His parents made sure he focused on his schoolwork. Even though academics were important, he also loved sports.

Carter went to college at Contra Costa College, then San Francisco State, and later George Fox University. He played basketball at these colleges.

A Coach with a Mission

As a basketball coach, Coach Carter believed that his players needed to take their studies seriously. He knew that good grades would help them get into college. This would open up many chances for them in life.

Richmond High School, where Coach Carter made a big impact.

This belief was truly tested when he coached basketball at Richmond High School. His team was undefeated, meaning they hadn't lost a single game. But Coach Carter did something surprising. He locked the team out of the gym. Why? Because they had not kept their promises about good grades and behavior.

At first, many people in the community were upset. But soon, people understood his reasons. Coach Carter was praised for showing his team that school and good values were more important than just winning games. His method worked! Every player on his Richmond team, where he coached from 1997 to 2002, graduated from high school.

The Movie Coach Carter

The amazing story of his 1999 season became the basis for the 2005 movie Coach Carter. In the film, famous actor Samuel L. Jackson played Coach Carter.

Life After Richmond High

After coaching at Richmond High, Carter continued to coach sports teams, but not basketball. He coached a SlamBall team called Rumble. SlamBall is a fast-paced sport that combines basketball, football, and gymnastics on trampolines. Coach Carter led Rumble to win their first SlamBall Cup in the 2001-2002 season.

Coach Carter has a son named Damien. Damien played basketball for his father at Richmond High. In the movie, Damien was played by actor Robert Ri'chard. Today, Coach Carter lives in San Antonio, Texas.

Coach Carter Impact Academy

In 2005, Coach Carter had an idea to open a special school. It would be a boarding school called the Coach Carter Impact Academy. It opened in 2009 in Marlin, Texas.

The academy allows about 65 students to live and study there. It is open to around 150 students in grades 8 through 12. This school is known for putting academic success just as high as sports success. The school helps students learn self-discipline. Their school days are long, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Students also learn to do their own chores, like laundry and cooking. They even run a small store and a barber shop at the school.

SlamBall Coaching Highlights

Coach Carter had a successful career coaching the SlamBall team Rumble. Here are some of their results:

See also

• Coach Carter
• Inspirational teachers and mentors in movies