Memo To Jennings School Board: Keep Coach Carter

I recently received a phone call from a local high school basketball coach, who told me to go to the website of the Jennings School District. To my surprise, I saw a listing for an opening for the boys varsity head basketball coach's position.

 The man who has held this position for the past 24 years, Randy Carter, was told that he had to re-apply for his position. This is a little stunning since Coach Carter has been one of the best high school coaches in the business throughout his Hall of Fame coaching career.

 Now, that he has gone through the process of re-applying, I think the best thing for the Jennings administration to do is the "hire" Coach Carter and let him do what he does best; coach basketball and help develop African-American kids into good men at the place that he holds so near and dear to his heart.

 I have had the good fortune of knowing Randy Carter since 1980 when I first moved to the St. Louis area. When I was a junior at McCluer North, Coach Carter was my varsity assistant coach as well as McCluer North's sophomore coach. Our friendship has grown over the course of those three decades, which compels me to write this column on his behalf.

 As a high school student-athlete, I knew back then what the good people at Jennings High have been able to witness for the past 24 years. That Coach Carter is a true gem of an individual as well as an outstanding basketball coach. He has been a great teacher, role model and mentor to many young men over the years.

 His success as a coach has only been the tip of the iceberg for what he means to the Jennings High community. He is a caring individual who loves all of his players as if they were his own sons. I know this from my personal relationship with him as a high school player and by watching him throughout his Hall of Fame coaching career for the past 24 years. He loves Jennings High School and lives and breathes Jennings High School.

 On the court, Coach Carter's success is of Hall of Fame quality. His 18 Suburban East Conference and district championships, three Final Four appearances, seven Suburban East Conference Coach of the Year awards speak for themselves as well as the numerous All-State athletes that have been developed under his guidance.

 I've had the pleasure of being the guest speaker at the Jennings High basketball banquet several times over the years. Coach Carter goes to extraordinary lengths to make sure all of his kids are celebrated for their achievements. Whether it is a former All-American such as Kelly Thames or the young man who played very little, every young man leaves that event feeling like a king because of the team concept that Coach Carter always fosters. For many years, he gone well beyond the call of duty to make sure his young men have an opportunity to succeed.

 Off the court, Coach Carter has had just as big an impact in the development of many young African-American men. Many of his former players have gone on to college and went on to be productive members of society in various fields, with several of them following in his footsteps into education and coaching. A few of his former players have been lost in tragic events. Coach Carter is always the first person to reach out to that young man's family during their darkest hour. The relationship between Coach Carter and his players continues well past their playing days are over. I include myself on that list of former players that maintains such a relationship with Coach Carter.

 Randy Carter represents everything that is right about high school sports. We live in a society where winning at all costs is embraced and celebrated while values and integrity sometimes take a back seat. Coach Carter represents the best of everything you want in your educational leaders.

 He has kept the Jennings High basketball program in the statewide spotlight for 24 years and he has done it with class, dignity and integrity while teaching his young men lessons in life as well as basketball.

 This man has poured his heart and soul into Jennings High for the past 24 years and he deserves to continue his career at the school that he loves so much. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter and I hope you do the right thing and enable Coach Randy Carter to build on his positive legacy at Jennings High as its boys basketball coach.