University of Dubuque

In 1975, Don Carthel began his coaching career at Floydada High School in Floydada, Texas. Two years later, in 1977 Don began coaching at the University of Dubuque. He served as the defensive coordinator for the 1977, 1978, and 1979 football teams. Additionally, he was the head men’s and woman’s track coach during the 1978, 1979, and 1980 seasons. During his time coaching football, Don helped lead the 1978 and 1979 teams to the Conference Championship title and the number one defense in the Iowa Conference. He assisted in guiding the UD football program to their first ninewin season, leading UD to the first playoff game in school history in 1979, and ranked number three in the country. Under Don’s guidance, the Spartan defense allowed only 67 total points in the entire 1979 regular season. Don coached three UD Athletic Hall of Fame defensive players, two defensive first team All- Americans, and 17 All-Iowa Conference defensive players. Don’s coaching career continued at various schools in Texas and New Mexico.

He helped lead West Texas A&M to the NCAA Playoffs for eight consecutive years from 2005-2013. He was head coach of the Amarillo Dusters and lead them to the Arena Football Championship in 2004. Throughout his career, Don established a NCAA Division II head coaching record of 124-69-1. Additional coaching honors include the Eastern New Mexico University Hall of Honors in 2001, the 2007 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Region Four Coach of the Year, and Texas Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame in 2014. He holds the title of West Texas A&M University’s All-Time Winningest Coach.

Don and his wife, Cindy, reside in Amarillo, Texas, and have two children, Colby and Courtney. In 2013, Don began serving as a volunteer coach on Colby’s staff at Texas A&M Commerce, where they won the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2017. The father-son duo continues to coach together at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.