Goshen head basketball coach Carroll leaving for Hueytown

Published 3:00 am Saturday, June 16, 2018

Goshen head basketball coach and assistant football coach Ethan Carroll has announced he is departing the high school.

After three years with the Eagles, Carroll will become an assistant basketball and football coach at Hueytown High School beginning in the fall.

“I really wasn’t looking for anything in particular,” Carroll said. “I was happy where I was and enjoying everything. I got a call from Hueytown High School to come and grow as a coach.”

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The decision to leave Goshen was more to do with family than coaching.

“It was more of a family decision,” Carroll said. “My wife really loves this area. We love Goshen also and Troy, but for her job opportunities, we feel like this will be a good place for both of us to grow.”

Carroll has spent his early years of coaching in Class 2A – coaching at Luverne and Goshen – now he turns his sights to the 6A Golden Gophers of Hueytown.

“I have never really been a big school guy,” Carroll said. “I grew up in a small school and the schools that I have been fortunate enough to be at so far are smaller schools. It’s definitely a learning adjustment at first, but it’s opportunities to grow and experience different types of athletic programs.”

After being head coach the last three seasons, Carroll will take a step back and be an assistant, where he hopes to continue learning the game.

“It’s kind of taking a step back to take two steps forward the next couple of years,” Carroll said.

Carroll helped lead the Eagles to success both on the court and on the field during his three years at Goshen. The highlight of his three years came on the football field this past season when the Eagles made their first every appearance in the Class 2A semifinals. On the hardwood, Carroll led the Eagles as far as a regional final.

“That meant everything,” Carroll said. “Coach (Major) Lane and coach Snyder took a chance on me, a young guy, and I learned a lot. I got to cut my teeth there. They really showed me how to be a better man, how to be a better leader. All the success that happened at Goshen were because of those kids. They’re wonderful people and they are going to be wonderful men one day. I was very blessed to be able to coach them.”

All the success this past school year was fun for the former Eagle coach.

“It always makes the job a little easier when you’re able to be successful,” Carroll said. “Being able to see the kids succeed is the biggest thing. It’s always good to have those moments the kids can look back to. You preach hard work and you put them through stressful situations at practice in order to see the results.”