Carter has accepted the position of director of athletics at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Ga.
“During his tenure at Newberry College, Andy has met or exceeded everything we have asked him to do,“ said Zais. “He has built an athletic program that is one of the best programs in Division II.”
“We wish Andy much success is his new venture and thank him for all he has done for Newberry College,“ said Chairman of the Board Billy Walker.
Carter served at Newberry for seven years, having joined the Newberry family in September 2002.
Since taking the helm, Carter initiated several projects to turn Newberry College athletics into one of the premier programs in Division II. Almost immediately upon his arrival, he presented the Board of Trustees with the “Newberry College Athletic Initiative,“ a long-term plan to improve athletics, while maintaining Newberry’s excellent academic record.
Results were almost immediate, as the college nearly doubled South Atlantic Conference (SAC) victories in consecutive years. Newberry also added wrestling and competitive cheerleading.
Academic achievement and student development have been the cornerstones of the athletic department under Carter. A growing student-athlete population, from 220 to more than 500, has set the standard in the conference by winning four of the past five academic titles. In 2007-08, Newberry placed a conference-high 105 student-athletes on the Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll.
Facility enhancement was a major initiative under Carter. In the summer of 2006 a new AstroPlay football field was installed, providing a state-of-the-art field for practice and competition. In 2007, a new baseball stadium was opened.
Many championships were won under Carter's watch. Most recently, the Newberry wrestling team finished second in the nation at the 2009 NCAA Division II National Championships. Keeno Griffin and Cy Wainwright earned the school's first ever national championships. The Newberry football squad won its first two SAC Championships in 2006 and 2008, and in 2006 advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs.
Women's basketball won the Food Lion SAC tournament championship in 2006 and 2007, while earning NCAA Division II tournament bids in 2005, 2006 and 2007. The men's golf team won the SAC tournament championship in 2008, earning a berth to the NCAA national tournament and finishing 19th in the nation. Women's tennis participated in the NCAA tournament in 2007 and men's tennis participated in the NCAA Tournament in 2008.
All told, 14 Newberry teams qualified for NCAA Division II postseason competition during Carter's tenure, compared to only one in the previous 11 seasons of NCAA membership.
Carter is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and serves as a board member for the Division II Athletics Directors Association.
Courtesy of Newberry College Sports Information
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