In the movie Samuel L. Jackson plays a motivated and determined basketball coach. In the beginning of the movie, Coach Carter takes over this team at Richmond High School and ends up with a bunch of young guys that love the game of basketball, but have never had to respect or deal with having a coach. Not winning a single game in their last season, they have no hope for the new season, even with a new coach. After introducing himself (Coach Carter) to the team, he tells everyone that he has made up a contract, which consists of maintaining a 2.3 average, attend all classes while sitting at the front of the class, and on game days, wear a tie. His rules are clearly stated on this contract and if they want to play on this team, they will need to agree and sign along with their parents. At first things are a little hectic with the parents, but the coach explains that they need to care about their academics before basketball. Basketball is a privilege, something a player earns. There is one player, Timo Cruz, who decides that he does not want to abide by these rules and tries to fight the coach. He is not allowed to play. After watching how the coach trains the team and leads them to their first couple of wins, he decides to play again. Coach Carter makes him do an impossible task of running and push-ups, but Timo tries his hardest just to be on the team. In the end the rest of his team steps up and helps him out, which shows unity, something that was taught by Coach Carter.

The team is doing very well, having won all of their games and first place in a tournament for the first time, a great accomplishment for Richmond High School. When coming back from the tournament, Coach Carter sees the progress reports from all the students. Almost all of his players are failing and not attending classes, as stated on their contract. Coach Carter locks up the gym and makes the players stay in the library to study and pass their classes rather than practice to win games. After making this decision, a riot begins with parents, students, teachers, and even the media. The School Board tries to resolve the conflict between the parents and coach, and stops the lock out, which defeats the purpose of what Coach Carter wants for his players. The community feels basketball is the only thing the guys on the team have. Coach Carter shows his players that they cango to college on a scholarship for their playing abilities. He inspired his players.

After the school board ends the lock out, Carter decides to resign from his coaching at Richmond High School. When he enters the gym, he sees his players studying to uphold their end of the contract. One of his players told him that even though the lock out ended, it does not mean that they can make them play basketball. The team studies hard and everyone on the team receives passing grades. The team played basketball and won all games and went to state in the end, because of the faith that their coach had in every single one of them. Many of his players ended up going to college.

Coach Carter makes a difference in this story, and sends out a great message to all teenagers growing up and for those teachers who might not try hard enough for their students. The principals and teachers did not think that their students could accomplish all what they did, just because of their surroundings, and the coach proved that all they need is some encouragement and discipline. In the movie, Coach Carter saves a kid’s life from going down the wrong path, teaches his players respect and discipline, teaches them the importance of an education, and gives them a chance to dream just a little bit higher.

The real Coach Ken Carter has received recognition for going out of his way for a group of kids that weren’t even his own. He has even been honored as a recipient of the City Flight News magazine’s the “Ten Most Influential African Americans in the Bay Area” for 2000 in the Sports Category. The Coach’s philosophy is “AVERAGE is just not good enough. Period!” One thing he tells his players, “If you get one percent better a day, within 100 days you’ll be 100 percent better.” An inspiring story of such a determined man all because he cared about his players as a student-athlete, where the student always comes first.

Samuel L. Jackson had the privilege of playing such a great role and seems to hold up the part quite well. Now at 56 he has been in almost 80 films and is very serious about his work. He too has gone out of his way to make a difference in his past, and he can relate to this coach. He agrees with basketball is a reward for doing good in the classroom. Jackson states, “But winning on the floor is a reward for doing well in the classroom. If you don’t go to class, you can still play ball, but you get hurt, maybe you don’t run the ball as fast anymore…what have you got left? An education is something that can’t be taken away,” states Jackson.