Football | 3/7/2024 4:45:00 PM

CLINTON — During a special called board meeting on Thursday, March 7, the Clinton Public School District's Board of Trustees approved the recommendation to name former ULM and Jones College coach John Carr as the new head coach of the Clinton Arrows.

Carr replaces Judd Boswell who, after 12 seasons at the helm, stepped down as head coach to become Clinton's full time Athletics Director.

"I am extremely excited to be the head football coach at Clinton High School. I have followed this program for years and have always been impressed by the tradition and commitment," Coach John Carr said. "My family and I look forward to meeting our players, staff, faculty and community. It's an exciting time and I can't wait to get started."

Coach John Carr brings an extensive leadership and coaching background with him to Clinton. 

For the past two seasons, Coach Carr served as Wide Receiver Coach/ Recruiting Coordinator at the University of Louisiana Monroe for Head Coach Terry Bowden.

From 2019 to 2021, Carr served as Assistant Head Coach, Pass Game Coordinator and Inside Receivers Coach at Troy University in Troy, Alabama. 

In 2018, he joined Matt Viator's staff as Wide Receivers Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at the University of Louisiana Monroe, a position he held from January 2018 to January 2019.

"We are so excited to welcome Coach John Carr and his wife Paige to the Clinton Arrow Family.  Coach Carr displays all of the characteristics desired by our community and the Clinton Public School District, where Excellence is the only option," Clinton's Athletic Director Judd Boswell said. 

"Carr's reputation, work ethic and high character is well known throughout the Southeastern United States," Boswell added. "His energy and passion for teaching life and football was undeniable during our talks leading up to this point. We are very excited to see where Coach Carr will take the Clinton Arrow Football Program." 

Prior to his time at ULM, Carr served as Assistant Head Coach as well as Offensive Coordinator and Quarterback and Wide Receiver Coach at Jones County Junior College for two seasons.

From 2013 to 2016, Carr served as Director of Football Operations at the University of Southern Mississippi where he was responsible for overseeing daily operations of USM's football program as well as managing the football team's annual budget, overseeing logistics for the team's travel. He also acted as Southern Miss's liaison with the NFL overseeing scout visits and the Annual Pro Day at Southern Miss. 

Carr's coaching career began in 1996 where he spent a year as Wide Receiver coach at West Ouachita High School in West Monroe, Louisiana.

The following year, he served in the same capacity at Ouachita Parish high School in Monroe, Louisiana, followed by a year at West Ouachita High School as Offensive Coordinator and Quarterback Coach. 

From 1999 to 2002, Carr served as Wide Receiver Coach at West Monroe High School, helping the Rebels reach the Louisiana State Championship three years in a row. 

Carr served as Offensive Coordinator and Quarterback Coach at Neville High School in Monroe from 2002 to 2004 where he oversaw game-plan strategy and play calling, leading the Neville Tigers to the 2002 and 2003 Class 4A State Semi-Finals.

In 2004, Carr joined the East Mississippi Community College coaching staff as Offensive Coordinator and Quarterback Coach. 

Carr's first stint as Head Coach came in 2005 when he returned to Ouachita Parish High School where he also served as Assistant Athletic Director for the Lions. During his eight seasons at Ouachita Parish High School, his Lions football team went 72-28 with consistent post-season appearances. Carr led the Lions to the 2005 Class 4A State Semi-Finals and 2006 4A State Quarter-Finals. 

After moving to Louisiana's Class 5A, Carr's team made it to the 2008 and 2012 5A State Quarter-Finals. 

Carr attended Louisiana Tech University where he was a four-year member of the Louisiana Tech University football team and earned a Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education. 

He earned his Master of Education in Administration and Supervision at the University of Monroe in 2001.

John Carr is married to the former Paige Hammonds. The couple has two daughters, Anna and Emma.