Alonzo Carter finished his sixth season with the Spartans in 2022. He joined the San Jose State University football coaching staff in January 2017 as the running backs coach and added the duties of recruiting coordinator in 2018 and assistant head coach in 2021.
In 2022, Carter helped Kairee Robinson run for a career-high in yards (752) and touchdowns (10). Robinson ran for a career-best 148 yards on 24 carries and a touchdown against Hawai'i (11/26/22).
The 2020 calendar year was an eventful one for Carter beyond coaching a running back group that seamlessly fit into a balanced and productive offense that won a Mountain West championship and finished ranked 24 in the final AP poll.
During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and up to the start of the delayed season, Carter became a national figure through his West Coast Zoom clinics - weekly sessions involving hundreds of football coaches. The concept originated from the desire to assist minority coaches with upward mobility in the coaching profession, the #BlackLivesMatter movement, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports and society. Rooted in listening, learning and networking, the Spartan assistant coach relied on his professional connections and hosted engaging ZOOM calls lasting as long as seven hours either once or twice a week.
For his use of the Zoom technology platform, he received a 2020 Zoomtopia award for innovation - emphasis on diversity: bridging the divide.
In August, 2020, he was named to the National Coalition of Minority Football Coaches (NCMFC) executive committee. The organization’s goal is to identify and groom coaches of color, and create a list of coaching candidates for upward mobility. The NCMFC recognized his organizational commitment through his recruitment of more than 100 new members, providing mentoring, and mock interview sessions with its MVP Advocate Award for 2020. Since August 2020, he assisted 26 NCMFC members that advanced to coaching positions of greater responsibility or visibility. On campus, he serves as an advisor to the student-athlete groups, People of Change and #SJSpeaksUp.
The Spartans' running backs were productive and timely with their productivity during the 2020 Mountain West championship season. San Jose State averaged 4.5 yards per rush, its best average as a team in five years, and became the one of the first two teams in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) history to complete a season without losing a fumble by a ball handler on offense, defense and special teams. The running backs' pass protection proficiency also contributed to San Jose State finishing tied for eighth nationally in fewest quarterback sacks allowed per game.
Carter came to the Spartans with much fanfare as a highly successful local community college and high school football head coach and an unparalleled five years in the world of musical entertainment.
The Spartan assistant has 18 years of head coaching experience. His teams compiled a 129-69-3 win-loss record, won 11 league championships, three California Interscholastic Federation (C.I.F.) Oakland Section titles, and six post-season bowl games. He was named a league or conference coach of the year in seven of those seasons.
At Cal State Hayward, he and a group of friends answered an audition call, became backup dancers and rap artists, and toured extensively with iconic hip-hop musician MC Hammer. Carter was awarded a multi-platinum record signifying at least 10 million albums sold for “Please Hammer Don’t Hurt Em.”
Carter was inducted into the African American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. He holds coaching certifications from the American Football Coaches Association, the California Interscholastic Federation and the California Community College Athletic Association. Carter was selected to participate in the Bill Walsh NFL Diversity Coaching Fellowship program in 2017 with the San Francisco 49ers.
Carter’s coaching career began as McClymonds High’s track and field coach in February 1993. In his three years as the track and field head coach, McClymonds produced eight league and section champions. He also had responsibilities as a varsity assistant football coach.
AWARDS
- 247sports. com Mountain West Recruiter of the Year (2019)
- CCCAA Coach of the Year (2012, 14, 15)
- California Community College regional Coach of the Year (2012, 14)
- Alameda Contra Costa Area League Coach of the Year (2009)
- Named the East Bay Coach of the Year (2001, 05, 06)
- Head coach at Contra Costa College (2010-16)
- Contra Costa College posted a 47-27 win-loss mark, captured four conference championships and won two bowl games under Carter.
- Head coach at Berkely High in Berkely, Calif. (2007-09)
- Head coach at McClymonds High in Oakland, Calif (1999-06)
- Won four league championships and three Oakland Section titles in eight seasons.
PERSONAL
- The 2016 California State University East Bay graduate majored in African American Studies.
- When the school was known as Cal State Hayward, he was a member of the Pioneers’ football and track and field teams.
- He and his wife, Roezell, are the parents of six children – Alonzo II, Isaiah, Alona, Malikhi, Anthony and Kennedie.
- The Carter family resides in San José, Calif.
| Alonzo Carter facts |
| Born: November 25, 1968 in Oakland, Calif. |
| 2021 San Jose State University assistant head coach/running backs coach/ recruiting coordinator |
| 2018-20 San Jose State University running backs coach/recruiting coordinator |
| 2017 San Jose State University running backs coach |
| 2010-16 Contra Costa College head football coach |
| 2007-09 Berkeley (Calif.) School head football coach |
| 1999-2006 McClymonds High School head football coach |
| 1993-98 McClymonds High School assistant football coach |
| CHAMPIONSHIPS |
| 2020 Mountain West |
| 2015 Pacific 7 Conference |
| 2014 Pacific 7 Conference |
| 2013 Bay 6 Conference |
| 2012 Bay 6 Conference |
| 2009 Alameda Contra Costa Athletic League |
| 2008 Alameda Contra Costa Athletic League |
| 2007 Alameda Contra Costa Athletic League |
| 2006 Oakland Athletic League & C.I.F. Oakland Section |
| 2005 Oakland Athletic League & C.I.F. Oakland Section |
| 2004 Oakland Athletic League |
| 2001 Oakland Athletic League & C.I.F. Oakland Section |
| THEY PLAYED FOR OR WERE TRAINED BY COACH CARTER |
| Keenan Allen, WR – Los Angeles Chargers, 9th NFL season |
| Takkarist McKinley, DE – Cleveland Browns, 5th NFL season |
| Marcus Peters, CB – Baltimore Ravens, 7th NFL season |
| Brandon Smith, DB – Calgary Stampeders, 12 CFL seasons |
| Courtney Anderson, TE – Played five NFL seasons |
| Nnamdi Asomuga, CB – Played 11 NFL seasons |
| Jahvid Best RB – Played two NFL seasons |
| Adimchinobe Echemandu, RB – Played five NFL seasons |
| Josh Johnson, QB – Played seven NFL seasons |
| Taiwan Jones, RB – Played 10 NFL seasons |
| Marshawn Lynch, RB – Played 12 NFL seasons |
| Dante Marsh, CB – Played 11 CFL seasons |
| Chris McCain, DE - Played four NFL seasons |
| D.J. Williams, LB – Played 11 NFL seasons |