Coaching the Classroom: Carter Brown’s CBU Story

Everyone finds their own path, their own way. Sometimes, the desire to teach, the desire to share knowledge, doesn’t begin in a classroom. For 23-year-old Carter Brown from Lingan, the spark to educate was ignited through sport. After a fulfilling athletic career with the CAPERS Men’s Soccer team, Carter transitioned from the pitch to the sidelines of the court in an assistant coaching role for the CAPERS Men’s Basketball squad, an experience he sees as parallel to his teaching development in pursuing a Bachelor of Education. This week, Carter graduated with his Bachelor of Education, focusing on teaching secondary students.

“What inspired me to pursue education was mainly coaching basketball,” Carter says. “I fell in love with the idea of helping people and students become better people and athletes. That really motivated me to take the path of teaching as I really enjoyed the process of seeing these young individuals grow over the course of our time together.”

From the Pitch to the Court

Before coaching, Carter spent four years developing as a CBU soccer player. Shifting to basketball coaching gave him fresh perspectives on leadership and teamwork, with his soccer experience providing a strong foundation for his assistant coach duties.

“Playing soccer at CBU was one of the best experiences I could’ve asked for,” he says. “Seeing the support from the coaching staff, seeing how Deano Morley was able to have high standards of his players while maintaining excellent relationships with each individual is just a glimpse as to what I’ve learned and taken from my experience as a soccer player to being a basketball coach and continuing to build on that knowledge with Matt Skinn and the rest of the coaching staff.”

Carter quickly realized that the interpersonal skills honed through competitive athletics translated perfectly to a classroom setting. Taking those lessons learned from high-performance practices into the classroom became his blueprint for educating students going forward.  

“My background in sport definitely helps me connect with students, and not only in a way that involves sports,” Carter says. “Learning over the years to be a great teammate to others and knowing that not one person is the same. Being able to connect with all of the different personalities is something that I take great pride in.”

Mastering the Balancing Act

Managing the rigorous demands of the Bachelor of Education program alongside intensive coaching responsibilities required immense discipline and self-motivation. Carter credits his ability to handle the heavy workload to the robust support network he found across the university.

“Balancing coaching here at CBU and the B.Ed degree was definitely not easy,” Carter says. “I was very fortunate to have amazing support from the men’s basketball coaching staff and my professors within the program to help me take on these roles. There was very minimal free time over the last year, but that’s exactly how I enjoy it; staying busy and pushing myself to accomplish the most that I can.”

That relentless work ethic paid off immensely during his field placements. Carter’s time teaching at OceanView Middle School in Glace Bay solidified his passion for teaching. He says the experience highlighted the profound emotional impact educators can have on their students.

“I’ve been fortunate to have a great experience over both of my practicum blocks, but one that stood out to me was on my last day at OceanView,” he says. “How the students reacted to me leaving, wanting me to stay, to come back soon and giving appreciation cards was extremely fulfilling and rewarding to see the positive impacts that the teaching profession can have on students.”

Advice for the Next Generation of Student-Athletes

Carter’s heavy involvement in campus life, coupled with his dedication to both academics and athletics, resulted in an opportunity to speak to his peers and to those following a similar path at CBU’s Academic All-Canadian Brunch. He used the platform to encourage his fellow student-athletes to fully embrace their time at the University and recognize the importance of community impact.

“I really wanted to reach the student-athletes by reflecting on my past experiences, letting them know to soak in every second of the experience and be appreciative of how well CBU and its athletics department treat us student-athletes,” Carter says. “I also wanted them to see the value in giving back to the community here as a fellow Cape Bretoner, as I spoke about the impact that had on me as a young and aspiring athlete.”

For athletes nearing the end of their playing careers, he highly recommends finding new avenues to stay connected to the sports they love while mentoring the next generation.

“My main piece of advice to other student athletes is to be involved in any way possible!” Carter says. “Whether it’s coaching, volunteering at camps, becoming a mentor, etc. It can teach you tons of life lessons and will help you apply what you have learned as a student athlete and contribute to the youth.”

Looking Ahead

As he looks beyond graduation, Carter is eager to continue blending his dual passions for education and athletics. He intends to keep leading by example both at the front of the classroom and on the sidelines.

“What’s next for me in the short term is to continue to teach in any capacity that I can moving forward, either as a full-time teacher or a substitute,” he says. “Along with returning to the Men’s Basketball coaching staff to help bring an AUS and National Championship to CBU in the near future.”

Congratulations to Carter Brown and the entire Spring 2026 graduating class!