Chris Carter named head coach for University High boys volleyball team

Chris Carter (left) a former coach at Foothill, has been named new boys volleyball coach at University. (Photo courtesy Foothill volleyball)

Chris Carter, who has coached volleyball at El Toro, Foothill and Yorba Linda, has been named new varsity boys coach at University High, Athletic Director Tom Shrake said Monday.

Carter replaces Neda Eaton, who was serving as interim head boys volleyball coach last season at University.

“I want to create a culture at Uni where winning is a result of process based learning in a safe learning environment,” Carter said in an Email Monday night. “In my gym mistakes are known as being part of the sport and part of the process as long as there is intention behind the error and a attempt at correction post feedback. I want players to love not only practice and games, but to fall in love the grind and nitty gritty of becoming a better athlete, especially when it’s hard. Learning to put team over self will also be at the forefront of my coaching philosophy. 

“I want to bring a culture where every athlete in the program knows each other by name from seniors on varsity to incoming freshmen at tryouts. We ask our lower levels to cheer for varsity and vice versa but if our athletes know each other as people as well as players, it creates a space where the athletes can support each other as much as we as coaches support the athletes.

“Our job as coaches is not only to make great athletes, but also prepare young adults to become great people; teaching them to have hard conversations with people of authority, to lift up their teammates, to push and fight through adversity, to be humble when you win and be gracious when you don’t.” 

Shrake, the athletic director, said Carter is well qualified.

“Coach Carter is also very experienced on the club circuit, serving as the head coach for various age groups at Pulse Athletics (Anaheim),” he said. “Coach Carter also works as a private instructor and is pursuing his teaching credential, hoping to eventually make an impact in the classroom, as well. His volleyball career began at El Toro High School, where he was a three-year varsity member, then continued at the community college level while beginning his coaching career.

“Coach Carter brings an enthusiasm for the sport of volleyball and an understanding of how to help each athlete achieve their personal goals. He emphasizes the importance of creating a positive culture for the student athletes. He focuses not only on individual skill development within a team sport, but also on biomechanics to maximize success and minimize injury. “

Carter spent five years at El Toro as a boys lower level head coach and was the varsity assistant from 2014 to 2019. At Foothill, he was a lower level head coach and varsiy assistant this past year. He also spent three years coaching girls volleyball at Yorba Linda.

Under the new CIF plan, boys volleyball is scheduled to begin in December.

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com