Audenzia Alexander
March 26, 2011
Adolescents
Professor
Damien Carter
In 1999, Ken Carter, a successful sporting goods store owner, accepts the job of
basketball coach for his old high school in a poor area of Richmond, CA, where he was a
champion athlete. He immediately imposes a strict regime typified in written contracts that
include stipulations for respectful behavior, a dress code and good grades as requisites to
being allowed to participate. The initial resistance from the boys is soon dispelled as the
team under Carter's tutelage becomes an undefeated competitor in the games. However,
when the overconfident team's behavior begins to stray and Carter learns that too many
players are doing poorly in class, he takes immediate action. To the outrage of the team,
the school and the community, Carter cancels all team activities and locks the court until
the team shows acceptable academic improvement. In the ensuing debate, Carter fights to
keep his methods, determined to show the boys that they need to rely on more than sports
for their futures and eventually finds he has affected them more profoundly than he ever
expected. This film is an inspirational, true-life film. What Coach Carter basically teaches
his boys in the end is that life isn't just a game.
Damien Carter was a freshman started off being the opposing team’s player. His
father wanted him to go to St. Francis only because he felt that it would look good on his
