A Part of God’s Plan- EC Alumni Spotlight on Daniel Carter
In May, Daniel Carter walked across the stage at the John W. Swails Center earning his bachelor’s degree in Sports Management. Unlike many of the other graduates in the class of 2016, Daniel had already found success in his dream job as the Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach at Columbia College.
Daniel, who started playing Lacrosse in 10th grade, transferred to Emmanuel after his first year of college because he wanted to keep playing the sport he loved and study for a career in coaching. After walking on to the EC Lacrosse team, he quickly earned a starting spot and the title of Captain in his first year.
Daniel was initially hired at Columbia College in the Fall of 2015 as an associate coach, but when the head coach unexpectedly left the team before the start of the 2016 season, he was promoted to the role of Interim Head Coach, something he has been preparing a lifetime for.
“I knew it would be a large task and that the players needed me to fully invest in doing the best job that I was capable of,” Daniel said. “Though at first I was nervous and uncertain; it wasn’t long before I was able to implement what I had been learning just months before in my sports management classes. With the recent events in my life and the circumstances I quickly became confident that this was God’s plan all along and He had been preparing me for this for years now.”
In his first year as Head Coach, the Lady Koalas won the AAC Tournament Championship and Carter was named National Women’s Lacrosse League Coach of the Year after ending the regular season with a 14-4 record.
“It was a great season and the championship was a testament to what the athletes have worked towards for years,” Daniel said. “Success like theirs didn’t happen overnight, it was because of the focus they’ve had in all their past training. I’m very thankful to have been a part of it.”
Daniel believes it was his time at Emmanuel College and the advice given to him by professors and coaches that has helped him be successful in his life and career to this point.
“Emmanuel College is special because the community is committed to making God’s love known; making His love known to the students and the world the students go out into after earning a meaningful degree,” Daniel said.
“I’ve been given a lot of great advice throughout my years at EC that I use in my job every day,” he continued. “From phrases my coach used, “the lifespan of a team is one season”, and lessons taught through Dr. Scott Bryan, “never hire someone who hasn’t struggled.”
Daniel knows his time at Emmanuel provided him with invaluable insight and without it he would not be in the position he is in today.