Alfonza L. Carter, the long-serving director of athletics at historically Black Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, died on August 9. He was 73 years old.
A native of Martinsville, Virginia., Carter was a 1973 graduate of North Carolina A&T State University where he was an All-American basketball standout. After graduation from A&T, Carter served as head freshman basketball coach and physical education instructor for the Fairfax County Public Schools System in Virginia. He then returned to his alma mater and became assistant men’s basketball coach and instructor of health and physical education
Carter then served on the staff at Shaw University for 40 years, including more than two decades as its athletic director. Before he became a legendary athletic director, Carter was an accomplished head coach in women’s basketball, men’s basketball, and tennis.
During his tenure as athletic director, the men’s and women’s basketball teams combined for 22 conference crowns and the women won a NCAA Division II national championship. Carter also oversaw the reinstatement of football after nearly three decades of absence.
Carter retired in 2020.
