Coach Alonzo Carter used to live a different life when he was younger.
He used to be the lead backup dancer for MC Hammer.
While in college at Hayward State, he and his friends auditioned to be part of his music video and were hired.
The music video? “Can’t Touch This.”
Alonzo is the backup dancer wearing blue pants.
Not only that, he became part of the crew that would travel with MC Hammer that summer on tour.
Since they were on summer break, it was an easy decision to join the tour, dance, and get paid.
He’d just go back to school when the tour was done.
But MC Hammer became even more famous and they were offered an extended contract.
Would they accept it?
Now Alonzo had to choose: will he choose to go back to college or tour the world as a dancer?
He chose to be a dancer because it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
He ended up touring with MC Hammer, dancing at American Movie Awards, the MTV Video Music Awards, and the Grammys, and even making an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show for the next three years.
And while he thrived as a dancer, he had another calling that he wanted to follow.
He went back to football.
When his chapter as a dancer ended, his chapter as a football coach started.
Alonzo Carter became Coach Alonzo Carter.
He went back to his old high school in Oakland as a football and track coach, but after years of coaching in high school, Coach Alonzo wanted more.
He wanted to coach football at the collegiate level.
For this one, he needed to go back to college and get his degree. And that’s what he did.
He went back to college 20 years after he dropped out to become a dancer and got his degree.
Now, he is a highly respected and well-loved college football coach at San Jose State University.
He loves that he has inspired so many students to reach their potential.
He said:
“From inner city, born and raised, to West Oakland, I’m living proof that, with some focus and faith, you can get things done,” Coach Carter shared with KPIX CBS SF Bay Area. “Have a wide vision on what you want to do and never let nobody tell you what you can’t do.”
His players did not know about his past until his head coach, who found out about his MC Hammer days, pulled a surprise on him.
During their football practice, he had someone play “Can’t Touch This” and urged Coach Carter to bust out his former dance moves.
Coach Carter couldn’t resist.
He danced out the choreography of the song, much to the delight of the football team.
The team was cheering him on while he danced, just like he cheers them on during their games.
For Coach Carter, it must be a nice feeling to know that he is able to inspire his team to play well, feel well, and live well.
See Coach Carter take it back to his MC Hammer days on the field in the video below!
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