Berkeley High football coach Alonzo Carter recently announced he had taken the head football post at Contra Costa College in San Pablo. In his three years at BHS, Carter’s teams went 25-8-1 while taking three ACCAL titles.
But it isn’t just the winning record that seems to set coach Carter apart. Reader Paul Lecky sent Berkeleyside this tribute:
Coach Carter was an amazing motivator who knew a lot about young men from disadvantaged backgrounds and quite a bit about football. He rejuvenated the BHS football program by emphasizing personal responsibility and academics.
His story has been told in many articles, but his effect on BHS in general and specifically on the young men who dedicated so much time to him over the last three years is hard for those not on the team to understand.
High school coaches are paid little and give so much to our young men. Coach Carter will be missed and I hope the new appointment can balance the many demands upon him at BHS. He will need the support of the community, families, administration and especially the boys to keep the football program as a place that motivates students to stay in school and try hard on and off the field.
BHS is beginning its search for a new head coach next month. You can follow coach Carter in his new post on Twitter — his username is RealCoachCarter.
Photo by Lucky Jeane from Picasa
