Recruiting Areas: Arizona, Colorado
Isaac Carter joined the Colorado Mines football staff in 2015 as its defensive coordinator, bringing more than a decade of experience at every level to Golden.
In three seasons in Golden, Carter has transformed the Mines defense as the Orediggers staked a claim to a share of the 2016 RMAC title. His 2016 defense earned 10 all-RMAC honors; among the secondary, which Carter works with, Mines had second-teamer Jalen Champagne and honorable mention Drew Stephon, and safety Caleb Courkamp was named an Academic All-American. The Mines defense led the RMAC in sacks with 32 (nine more than any other RMAC team) and was second in interceptions with 18. Mines' 27 total takeaways ranked second in the league and helped the Orediggers have the RMAC's best turnover margin. In 2017, Mines had the RMAC's second-best scoring defense (22.8) and ended the season with a +5 turnover ratio, as they racked up seven all-RMAC selections. Linebacker Dean Wenger went on to be named the NFFCC Colorado Defensive Player of the Year.
Carter was previously the defensive coordinator at Whittier College, and he also held the title of recruiting coordinator for the Poets starting with his hire in 2012. Prior to that, he spent four seasons as the secondary coach with the professional Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League, helping them to two UFL championships while also managing quality control, film breakdown, and game planning. Carter also held the defensive coordinator job at Colorado College (2008), the athletic director and head coaching positions at Summit Christian Schools (Fla.) (2007-08), and was an assistant defensive backs/special teams coach at Princeton (2005-06), including for their 2006 Ivy League title run.
Carter is no stranger to the RMAC - he is twice a graduate of New Mexico Highlands, and he began his coaching career there first as a graduate assistant in 2001, and then as the defensive backs coach and pass defensive coordinator from 2002 to 2004. He was also Highlands' speed and conditioning coach and academic coordinator during that time. His special teams at Highlands ranked among the RMAC and nation's best.
Carter has coached a number of future NFL players, including Isaiah Trufant, Joe Porter, and Coye Francies. He earned his B.A. in human performance and sport from New Mexico Highlands, and received his master's from the same institution in sports administration.
