Ken Carter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ken Carter
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Carter giving an interview in 2014
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Kenny Ray Carter
January 1, 1959 Fernwood, Mississippi, U.S.
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| Other names | Coach Carter |
Kenny Ray Carter, born on January 1, 1959, is an American businessman, education supporter, and a former high school basketball coach. He is widely known as "Coach Carter" because of a famous true story about his time coaching basketball at Richmond High School. This story was even made into a movie called Coach Carter in 2005.
Contents
The Story of Coach Carter
Early Life and Coaching Ideas
Kenny Ray Carter grew up in a family that really 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 finally George Fox University. He played basketball at these colleges.
As a basketball coach, Carter believed that his players needed to take their studies very seriously. He knew that good grades would help them get into college. This would open up many other chances in their lives.
The Famous Lockout at Richmond High
Coach Carter's strong belief in academics was truly tested. He was coaching basketball at Richmond High School. His team was undefeated, meaning they hadn't lost a single game. However, his players were not keeping up with their schoolwork. They also weren't following the rules they had agreed to.
So, Coach Carter made a very tough decision. He locked the gym and stopped the basketball season. He did this until his players improved their grades and behavior. At first, many people in the community were very angry. They wanted the team to keep playing. But soon, people started to understand his reasons. They saw that Carter was trying to teach his team important life lessons. He wanted them to value good behavior and schoolwork above everything else.
His plan worked! Every single one of his players from Richmond High School graduated. He coached there from 1997 to 2002. The amazing story of the 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
Coach Carter still coaches sports teams, but not basketball. He coached a special sport called SlamBall. SlamBall is a fast-paced game that mixes basketball, football, and gymnastics. He led the SlamBall team called Rumble. They won their first SlamBall Cup championship in 2001/2002. He also coached Rumble in 2003 and 2008.
Carter has a son named Damien. Damien played for his father at Richmond High. He was played by Robert Ri'chard in the Coach Carter movie. Today, Coach Carter lives in San Antonio, Texas.
Coach Carter Impact Academy
In 2005, Coach Carter had an idea for a new school. He wanted to open a boarding school called the Coach Carter Impact Academy. This school opened in 2009 in Marlin, Texas. The academy allows about 65 students to live and study there. It also welcomes around 150 students in grades 8 through 12.
This school is special because it puts academic success just as high as sports success. The academy helps students learn self-discipline. School days are long, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Students also do their own chores, like laundry and cooking. They even run a store and a barber shop on the school grounds.
See also
- Coach Carter
- Inspirational/motivational instructors/mentors portrayed in films
