As he prepares to take the full reigns of the Adel-Desoto-Minburn Tigers football program later this year, newly hired head coach Garrison Carter has one thing to share with his group of new players. “Anybody who plays football for (ADM) needs to understand that they’re going to be in a leadership development program but just happen to play football,” Carter said.
The path to change for the ADM football program began shortly after the end of last season with the announced retirement of long-time head coach Mike Whisner and continued last month with the hiring of Carter as his successor. Carter has coached six seasons of traditional 11 man football in Iowa, including the previous four falls leading the Washington Demon football program. He recorded an overall record of 45-19 during that span. ADM is coming off one of their worst seasons in recent memory, posting a 1-8 overall record with their lone victory coming via forfeit in their non district schedule. Carter shares with Raccoon Valley Radio his plan on changing the culture of ADM football starting this summer. “I think it’s a two prong attack; the first thing we need to do is to create a program that kids simply can’t live without.” Carter said, “That comes from me and my assistant coaches taking the time to genuinely engage with kids and form relationships with kids. Stop and have conversations with kids in the hallways and that’s going to take time. You can’t snap your fingers and make that happen.”
His second prong focuses on building a program on toughness and competing for everything. Carter says this is done by making the players earn everything and not giving out handouts. “One of the reasons I love the game of football is because it’s one of the few places on earth where toughness and accountability still matter and still win.” Carter said, “Again, that’s a process that doesn’t happen overnight, but that’s something we are definitely going to start from day one.”
Carter adds he can promise those players who want to play high school football for ADM going forward won’t regret it.