Carter named head men's basketball coach
KT Carter has been named the new head men's basketball coach.
MARS HILL, N.C. - KT Carter has been named the new head men's basketball, as announced by Director of Athletics Rick Baker on Tuesday, April 22.
"I am incredibly honored and excited to join the Mars Hill University family as the next head men's basketball coach," said Carter. "I want to thank President Floyd and Director of Athletics Rick Baker for believing in my vision and entrusting me with this incredible opportunity."
Carter has served as the Associate Head Coach at Carson-Newman since 2019 where he helped lead the Eagles to a SAC Championship in 2021 and two NCAA Tournament appearances (2021, 2025). Averaging 89 points per game and shooting over 53 percent from the floor during the 2024-25 season, the Eagles were one of the most prolific offenses in the country, leading all of DII in three-point percentage, sinking over 42 percent during the campaign. Over the past two seasons, the team possessed one of the best offenses in all of Division II.
Over his 10-year career, Carter has recruited, coached, and oversaw the development of nearly 20 all-conference selections, many accruing all-conference accolades multiple times in their respective careers, with several elevating to All-Region and All-American status.
Within the SAC, Carter, while at both Carson-Newman, and during his run as assistant coach at Tusculum from 2016-18, recruited and oversaw the development of countless 1st Team All-Conference selections, highlighted by a two-time SAC Defensive Player of the Year (2022 & 2023), Freshman (2019 & 2021) and Player of the Year (2021). In 2021, he coached the SAC Tournament MVP. Numerous individuals Carter recruited and coached went on to become All-Southeast Region selections and All-Americans.
"We are excited to welcome Coach Carter and his family to Mars Hill. He has a great understanding of the SAC both as a former player and as a coach," stated Baker. "He has worked with successful programs in our league and his knowledge and experience will greatly benefit our men's basketball program. We look forward to his success in the near future of Lion Basketball."
He also monitored the academic progression and improvement within the Eagles' team. Over a six-year span, the team went from having one member with above a 3.2 GPA to having 10, while also securing a 100% graduation rate within the program. During his tenure with Carson-Newman, he coached five Academic All-Americans.
Carter began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Southern Arkansas University from 2015-16. He then went on to Tusculum for two years as the assistant coach. Carter took the assistant coach role at Rogers State University for the 2018-19 season where he helped lead the team to their first 20-win season as a full-time Division II institution. They went on to win their first conference tournament game in school history.
Carter graduated in 2015 from Lenoir-Rhyne with a Bachelor of Science degree. In 2019, he graduated with his Master's in Kinesiology-Coaching from Southern Arkansas University.
Carter added, "My family and I are excited to call Mars Hill home, immerse ourselves in the community, and bring a competitive, disciplined, and inspiring brand of basketball to the court. We're ready to get to work and build something truly special. Go Lions!"
