I imagine Samuel L. Jackson has his agent hold scripts like a fan and does the ole eeny, meeny, miny, moe in choosing his next job. The man is known for his roles as a radio DJ, hitman, leader of superheroes, jedi, FBI agent who doesn't like snakes, and everything in between.
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Jackson took his chops to the hardwood as the titular character in the 2005 film Coach Carter. As coach Ken Carter, Jackson carries a calm yet stern demeanor and doesn't put up with any shenanigans. His mission is to give his players a chance at a better life. The movie earned $76.7 million at the box office and helped launch Channing Tatum's career.
Coach Carter is based on the true story of Ken Carter leading the 1999 Richmond High School varsity basketball team. He famously locked the gym in the middle of an undefeated season due to the team not meeting contractual academic standards.
The high school basketball coach stuck to his guns and the team forfeited several games in the face of community backlash. Gradually, the team's grades improved and the lockout was lifted. While they fell in the state tournament, the team outperformed expectations and several players attended college.
In Carter's tenure as head coach from 1997 to 2002, every one of his players graduated.
The film told us one section of Carter's life. What is the coach up to today?
Where is the Real Coach Carter Now?
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Carter moved to Richmond, California — a town in the San Francisco Bay Area — from Mississippi when he was in seventh grade. He attended Richmond High School and excelled on the basketball court. He left as the school's all-time leader in scoring, assists, and steals. His son Damien would end up breaking his father's records 23 years later.
Carter attended San Francisco State, Contra Costa College, and George Fox University. He was a basketball player at Contra Costa and George Fox.
He credits his business educators at George Fox for opening his eyes to business possibilities and giving him a fresh perspective.
Carter returned to Richmond upon graduation and started multiple small businesses such as a sporting goods store, a T-shirt business, a hair salon, and a barber shop.
The basketball coach opened the Coach Carter Impact Academy in the town of Marlin, Texas in 2009. The school focuses on attempting to build self discipline through longer academic days from 6 am through 6 pm. Students are required to do general tasks such as laundry and cooking. The school also features a student operated store and barber shop on campus.
Additionally, Carter is the owner and operator of Prime Time Publishing and Prime Time Sports. He is the founder of the Coach Ken Carter Foundation, a nonprofit organization that develops, promotes, and provides education, training, and mentoring programs for minority youths.
He's published two books: 2012's Yes Ma'am, No Sir: The 12 Essential Steps for Success in Life and 2005's Coach Carter: My Life.
He served as the coach of the SlamBall team Rumble based out of Los Angeles. The squad won the SlamBall Cup in 2002. That same year, Carter carried the Olympic torch for the Salt Lake City games.
These days, Carter is a motivational speaker and author.
Ken Carter inspires a drive to be the best version of yourself. The movie Coach Carter captures all the ups and downs of this philosophy.
It should be noted that any film featuring Samuel L. Jackson and a Chingy song bumps the rating up a full star.
