Jonathan Carter was hired as the Head Men's and Women's Cross Country & Track and Field Coach in August 2023. Carter comes to NSU with ample experience coaching at the collegiate and high school levels. During his three-year tenure at the University of Fort Lauderdale, dating back to 2021, he coached one National Champion and five All-Americans (Indoor & Outdoor). As well as leading the men's program to a 7th place finish at the NCCAA National Championship, the highest finish in program history.
In 2025, Carter led the Lady Sharks to a third-place team finish and the Men's team to a sixth-place finish at the Inaugural SSC Outdoor Track Meet. NSU had eight athletes named to the All-SSC Team, highlighted by First-team finishers Jillian Thorning, the Female Distance Runner of the Year, and Sativa James, the Female Freshman of the Year. Other athletes to be recognized for being named to the All-SSC Second Team are Eden Toal, Leena Saidi, Julian Granville, Phillip DiMarco, Federico Meneses, and Andres Agudelo.
In 2024, Carter led the Sharks to their first-ever Conference Title for Women's Cross Country. Carter was also named the SSC Coach of the Year for Women's Cross Country, becoming the first Coach in NSU Cross Country history to receive the award. NSU had five athletes named to the All-SSC Teams, including Jillian Thorning (All-SSC First Team and Runner of the Year), Leena Saidi (All-SSC First Team), Eden Toal (All-SSC First Team), Ally Jakubiak (All-SSC Second Team), and Isabella Grant (All-SSC Second Team).
The Florida native has also been the Head XC/Track and Field coach at Charles W. Flanagan HS since 2017. Where he led the girls' program to two FHSAA District 14-4A Girls Championships and one FHSAA Region 14-4A Girls Championship. On the Boys side, he led the Boys XC Team to a Top 10 finish at Regionals and a spot at the State Championship meet in 2022. Carter also has been the head coach of the West Pembroke Pines Track Team since 2009, coaching three AAU National Champions and several AAU Championship medalists.
Prior to the University of Fort Lauderdale and Flanagan HS, Carter coached previously at Florida International University and Long Island University, leading Long Island's Women's Team to a Top 3 finish at the 1998 Northeast Conference Indoor & Outdoor Championship.
Carter holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology from Florida State University, where he also ran track and earned several accolades. He was a 6x NCAA DI All-American, 1996 Olympic Trials 100m Semi-Finalist, 1997 World University Games 100m Bronze Medalist/ 4x100 Meter Relay Gold Medalist, 1998 USA Championship 100m (4th)/200m (4th), Silver Medalist World Cup 4x100m Relay, 2000 Olympic Trials 100m Semi-Finalist, 2001 USA Championship Finalist 100m.
