Head Coach Carson Blackwelder announces Hanoj Carter as an Assistant Track and Field Coach
8/6/2026 3:44:00 PM | Track and Field
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – USC Upstate head track & field coach Carson Blackwelder announced the hiring of Hanoj Carter as the program's new assistant coach. Carter will oversee the Spartans' sprinters, hurdlers and jumpers ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Carter arrives at Upstate after spending the past five years at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he served as the program's associate head coach while also handling operations for the Crimson Hawks' cross country and track & field programs. During his tenure, he coached sprinters, hurdlers, jumpers, throwers and combined-event athletes while helping build one of the top NCAA Division II programs in the region.
We are excited to welcome Hanoj to USC Upstate, said Blackwelder He brings a proven ability to develop student-athletes and extensive recruiting experience. His background coaching multiple event groups, along with his passion for mentoring young people, makes him a great fit for our program.
As associate head coach at IUP, Carter helped develop one NCAA All-American, three NCAA National Championship qualifiers, 16 All-Region performers, 35 all-conference selections and five conference champions. He also coached three NCAA Division II All-Academic student-athletes while creating the program's Academic Support Program for at-risk student-athletes.
In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Carter managed many aspects of the Crimson Hawks' operations, including recruiting, travel coordination, home meet management, budgeting and compliance. He directed recruiting efforts across all event disciplines, coordinated official and unofficial visits and managed relationships with prospective student-athletes, coaches and campus departments.
Before joining IUP, Carter served as head track & field coach at Franklin Senior High School in Indiana, Pennsylvania. There, he coached a state champion, three state qualifiers and helped four student-athletes earn collegiate scholarships while leading the program to a district runner-up finish in 2021.
Prior to beginning his coaching career, Carter enjoyed an accomplished collegiate career as a sprinter. At the University of Louisiana, he earned NCAA All-America honors, qualified for multiple NCAA Championships and captured three individual Sun Belt Conference titles while setting school records in the 100 and 200 meters. Before transferring to Louisiana, he was an NCAA All-American and conference champion at Northwestern State University.
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