Shaw University’s Dr. Alfonza Carter to Retire After 40 Years
CIAA championships increased to 60 total under highly-regarded athletic director
Raleigh, NC — (June 16, 2020) — Shaw University today announced that long-time athletic director, Dr. Alfonza Carter, will retire effective July 31 after 40 years of distinguished service.
Dr. Carter has served the University since 1980 in a variety of positions. In September 2015, Carter returned to the role of Director of Athletics after spending over a year as Vice President for Administrative Services. He has also served the University as Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Dean of Students, Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Head Women’s Basketball Coach, Tennis Coach, and Director of Intramurals. As Interim Dean of Enrollment Management, he helped Shaw achieve one of its largest freshmen classes ever.
Under Carter’s direction, many of the Shaw athletic programs have seen unprecedented success. Shaw’s men’s basketball program has gone to the NCAA Div. II Elite Eight, and in 2012 the women’s basketball program won the NCAA Div. II National Championship. The men’s tennis team has won over 10 CIAA championships, and countless student-athletes have matriculated with high GPAs and received their degrees. In 2010 alone, the Bears and Lady Bears brought home championship trophies in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and tennis. Between 2000 and 2010, Shaw’s athletic program was the only one in the CIAA to earn at least one championship in each year.
A native of Martinsville, VA, Carter is a 1973 graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, where he was an All American basketball. He had a stellar collegiate career and is a member of the NC A&T Hall of Fame. After graduation Carter served as Head Freshman Basketball Coach and physical education instructor for Fairfax County Public Schools. He then returned to his alma mater and became Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach and instructor of health and physical education.
Shaw University presented Carter with the Doctor of Humane Letters in 2011, and inducted him into the Shaw Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014. Carter has represented Shaw numerous times at both the conference and national levels, and has served as President of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. In 2006, Carter received the Jeanette A. Lee Athletic Achievement Award from the CIAA for outstanding administration and achievement for an athletic program.
“Words are not adequate to describe the impact Dr. Carter has made on this University. He has contributed richly to the Shaw as a whole and especially to the lives of our student-athletes. I will miss his calm presence and wise counsel, and we all will miss his winning ways,” said Dr. Paulette Dillard, president of Shaw University.
Shaw will form a search committee to fill this important role.