Carter's Passion is Coaching


	Senior DB Cortney Carter

NORMAN, Okla. -- To many university students, finding out what they want to do in life can be a long journey that takes a couple of years of college to figure out. For senior Cortney Carter, it was clear to him what he wanted to do with his life all along.

Carter has known that he had a passion to coach football on the collegiate level for some time now. As a boy watching his grandfather, Donnell Carter, coach for a semi-pro team, Carter knew that a coach was what he aspired to be and playing collegiate football only strengthened his passion to teach the game.

"It's been something he has been talking about for years, ever since junior high school," said Carter's mother, Tina Jones. "It is something he got from his grandfather. Football is like an art form to Cortney."

Growing up in a rough part of Dallas, Carter's grandfather made his influence felt at an early age, starting Carter in little league football and keeping him around to watch him coach the semi-pro games.

"Because my grandfather was a coach, I've put myself in the coaches' shoes as I have gone through my collegiate career," said Carter.

Carter has known that

he had a passion to

coach football on the

collegiate level for

some time now.

Another aspect that inspired Carter to coach was his selected major, sociology. Learning about different aspects of the human nature in his classes, Carter became interested in why people do what they do.

"It's a good major because you get to learn about how people are and really understand them. It explains a lot about gender, race and the economy," said Carter. "Being around a lot of different people, whether it is players on the field or students in the classroom, I see why people act a certain way."

Sociology wasn't Carter's first choice when he arrived at the University of Oklahoma. He originally wanted to major in interior design. After finding out that the class schedule would not work with his football schedule, Carter made the change to his current major.

"Once we discussed what the major (sociology) was and I started taking the classes, I became more interested. At first, I didn't know if I was going to be comfortable with it," said Carter.

Whether it is excelling

in the classroom or

volunteering on and

off campus, coaches

know Carter is a great

ambassador.

It is easy to see that he understands the importance of being a good student-athlete when looking at his commitment to the OU football team and his studies. It is something that his grandfather tried to instill in him very early on. Although Carter's grandfather passed away years ago, his impact on his grandson continues to this day.

Being a part of the OU football team as a walk-on can be a daunting task for anyone. Carter has gained the respect of other players as well as the coaching staff. Whether it is excelling in the classroom or looking to volunteer in different clubs on and off campus, coaches know Carter is a great ambassador for the team.

"Everybody respects him. He is an extremely hard worker, he cares and he is very passionate about being a Sooner and being a part of a team," said defensive coordinator Brent Venables. "He understands the sacrifices that it takes. It pays off for him to be a part of the team camaraderie that we have. He really embraces the intangibles of being a teammate."

It is clear that the coaching staff understands what Carter wants to do in his life. They believe Carter has what it takes to be successful at anything he does in his life, which includes coaching.

"He has a really good understanding of what it takes to get to the next phase of his life and is willing to do all the work that involves," said Venables. "He is really willing to sacrifice for that. He has been mature beyond his years ever since he has been here."

Carter has what it takes

to be successful at

anything he does in his

life, including coaching.

After taking 18 hours this fall to complete his degree, Carter will start working out in preparation for a shot at the next level of football, whether on an NFL or arena football team.

When his football playing career comes to an end, like many other Sooners, Carter will look to obtain his master's degree and return to Owen Field as graduate assistant, the next steps toward his dream of being a coach and following in his grandfather's footsteps.

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Feature by Matt Wilson | OU Athletics Media Relations

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