Sac State prez says new football coach brings ‘stability.’ For now, I agree | Opinion
For the second time in fewer than two years, a football coach is buying into Sacramento State President Luke Wood’s vision, willing to step down from college football’s top tier to join the Hornets, who remain one level below.
As the College Football Playoff kicks off this week and 12 teams battle for a national title, the university on Thursday will formally introduce Arizona assistant head coach Alonzo Carter as the Hornets’ new head football coach.
While the season’s end signals a new champion, it also sets the stage for the most crucial stretch in the Hornets’ calendar: a whirlwind of recruitment and transfer-portal moves that will shape the program’s future.
Wood is confident that Carter isn’t just a great coaching hire — he’s a long-term investment in the program’s future.
“(Carter) has wanted to be at Sacramento State for many years, and he wants to be here and stay here,” Wood said on Monday. “Stability was something that we were looking for.“
“I don’t see this as a two, three, four or even five-year commitment. I see this as much longer-term.”
Carter arrives with a diverse résumé: two seasons as Arizona’s assistant head coach, seven years in the same role at San Jose State, and deep Oakland roots from his time coaching at McClymonds High School.
And, to make things interesting, Carter was once a choreographer for MC Hammer.
Recruiting is Carter’s calling card. In 2019, he earned 247Sports’ Mountain West Recruiter of the Year honors, a testament to his skill at building rosters and relationships.
Naturally, some wonder if Sac State considered former Hornet Troy Taylor, the architect behind three Big Sky Conference Championships, for the position.
Wood said he couldn’t say for certain, citing the confidentiality of the hiring process.
But, Wood said, Taylor “made some significant contributions to Sacramento State. As an alum, I’m forever grateful for his contributions. In this search, we went with a coach that we thought was in the best position to help our success in the future.”
FBS is still a priority for Sac State
Wood said he still intends for the Hornets to be in the Football Bowl Subdivision — college football’s highest level — in 2026, whether through the traditional invitation process or by creating a schedule with all FBS teams, even though Sac State has failed to date to qualify for FBS status and remains a second tier Football Championship Subdivision team.
Sac State this year applied for a waiver to be an independent FBS team, but the NCAA denied the request, throwing the 2026 schedule into limbo, with only a handful of games scheduled at this point.
But Wood sees Carter as a coach who can navigate next season and help the Hornets make the leap to the big-time. “We absolutely discussed FBS and our aspiration for FBS. It’s certainly a part of our consideration that he’s (previously) been at two different FBS programs. That’s good for us,” Wood said.
Sac State confirmed Carter’s base salary of $350,000 matches that of his predecessor, Brennan Marion.
Marion’s total coaching package amounted to about $1 million with Sac State. We don’t yet know how much Carter will make.
Wood also credited Sac State Athletic Director Mark Orr for getting Carter hired quickly after Marion announced Dec. 5 that he’s returning to the University of Colorado to coach alongside Deion Sanders, who will pay him about $1.5 million a year, according to USA Today and other publications.
The move gives Carter ample time to make a splash in the NCAA transfer portal and with overall recruitment.
“It’s one thing to be a good recruiter, but he recruits out of California,” Wood said of Carter. “We’ve got amazing, talented players in our local community.”
After a turbulent few months, Sac State’s hiring of Carter signals a true turning point. What happens next will be defined by the commitment of every Hornet — athletes, students, staff, and fans alike.
This story was originally published December 16, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
