Ken Carter was a successful businessman when he accepted the head basketball coach position at troubled Richmond High School in California in 1997. He instituted a contract which players and their parents signed. It spelled out crucial rules of conduct: treat others with respect; shun drugs and alcohol; sit in the front of class and participate; wear a suit and tie on game day; and maintain a minimum of a 2.3 GPA.
When not all of the players lived up to these obligations, the playoff bound, undefeated Richmond Oilers -- including Carter's own son, Damien -- were locked out of the gym and pulled from any basketball-related activities to learn how to "rise as a team." Academically solid players tutored weaker ones, and the whole team improved their GPAs. Most importantly, these inner city students ultimately returned not just to the court, but to a new standard of winning, one which transcended the hoop dreams of high school. The students now thought about college educations and futures they might never have imagined for themselves.
The film, Coach Carter (Paramount Pictures), based on the lock-out and starring Samuel L. Jackson as the coach, is just one more testimony to the strength of his convictions. At the podium, Coach Carter scores with hard-hitting advice about accountability, integrity, teamwork and leadership to succeed both on and off the basketball court.
Carter will speak at Grand Valley on Saturday Feb. 5 at 5:30 p.m. in Allendale's Fieldhouse Arena following Grand Valley men's and women's basketball games. Tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for children, and free to GVSU students. A single ticket is good for admittance to three events:
Tickets can be purchased at all Meijer Stores, from StarTicketsPlus at 800-585-3737 or online at www.starticketsplus.net, and from the Grand Valley Athletics Office or Kirkhof Center Information Desk. Most seating is general admission.
The talk is part of the annual Leadership Summit. Students from Grand Valley and from a number of other college campuses will be engaged in the day long leadership conference.
