DIRECTOR OF BASEBALL & SOFTBALL – MONTCLAIR
Joe Carter Jr. brings more than 30 years of experience developing baseball and softball players of all ages and skill levels. A former standout high school and collegiate athlete, Carter combines an accomplished playing career with decades of coaching experience and a passion for helping athletes build the skills, confidence, and mindset needed to reach their full potential.
A graduate of Bloomfield High School, Carter was a two-sport varsity athlete in baseball and basketball. On the baseball field, he was a two-time First Team All-Essex County shortstop and earned First Team All-State honors as a senior after batting .570 with a state-leading 57 hits in 100 at-bats while striking out just twice all season.
Carter began his collegiate baseball career at Kean University, where he earned NJAC Freshman of the Year and NJAC Player of the Year honors before transferring to William Paterson University. Throughout his collegiate career, he was a four-time First Team All-NJAC selection, never batted below .370, and struck out just 17 times in more than 600 at-bats. In 1992, he helped William Paterson capture the NCAA Division III National Championship. His accomplishments have earned him induction into both the Bloomfield High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the William Paterson University Athletic Hall of Fame.
For more than three decades, Carter has coached and instructed baseball and softball athletes at a variety of ages and competitive levels. As a high school assistant coach, he helped lead the program to three New Jersey State Championships. He has also guided numerous student-athletes through the college recruiting process, helping players and families better understand the preparation, discipline, and commitment required to compete at the next level.
Carter’s perspective on player development is also shaped by his family’s firsthand experience with the path to professional baseball. Two of his stepsons have been selected in the MLB Draft, with one advancing to the Major Leagues. Supporting their journeys through youth, high school, collegiate, and professional baseball has given Carter valuable insight into the dedication, discipline, preparation, and daily habits required to compete at the highest levels of the game.
Carter’s coaching philosophy centers on the belief that great players are developed through consistent, purposeful training. He emphasizes building a strong foundation of fundamentals before progressively developing mechanics, game IQ, confidence, mental toughness, and high-level practice habits. His approach focuses not only on creating better baseball and softball players, but also on developing character, accountability, leadership, and a strong work ethic.
More than anything, Carter views himself as a teacher. Inspired by the coaching philosophy passed down through his own family, he believes in using the game to positively impact young athletes. His goal is to help every player build confidence, embrace the development process, and become the best version of themselves both on and off the field.