Carlos Wilson enters his sixth year at Texas Southern as Associate Head Coach on the women’s basketball staff. Since his arrival at TSU prior to the 2016-17 campaign, TSU has won 19-plus games in three of his six seasons on staff and made two postseason appearances.
In 2018-19, TSU featured a revamped roster due to graduation from the previous season but still had a solid season as they led the SWAC in scoring defense. Newcomer Niya Mitchell led the SWAC in rebounding and finished fourth in scoring.
The Lady Tigers placed second overall in the SWAC during the 2017-18 campaign as they led the league in scoring defense, scoring margin, field goal percentage defense, three-point shooting and rebound defense. The team made its second consecutive postseason appearance as they participated in the Women’s Basketball Invitational. Individually, guard Joyce Kennerson was named SWAC Player of the Year after averaging 24.2 points per contest.
In Wilson’s first season at TSU, the Lady Tigers won a school-record 23 games, captured a share of the SWAC regular season title and appeared in their first-ever NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship. TSU led the SWAC in scoring defense, scoring margin, field goal percentage defense, three-point field goal defense, rebounding defense and defensive rebounding.
Before his arrival at TSU, Wilson spent two seasons as an assistant coach for men’s basketball at Arkansas State. In his first season with A-State, Wilson saw one of his recruits to A-State reach an assist total not seen in several years. PJ Hardwick logged 130 assists during the 2014-15 season, the most since Dereke Tipler had 150 over the 2005-06 campaign. Wilson coached the A-State post players and saw forward Anthony Livingston post 15 double-doubles on the year, most at A-State since Dan Henderson in the 1975-76 season. Livingston earned All-Sun Belt honors after the 2015-16 season and posted 14 double-doubles on the year, including 10 in conference play. He also posted 20 or more points in 10 games and had 12 or more rebounds in seven contests.
Wilson cut his teeth on the junior college level as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Odessa College and Tyler Junior College. Success has accompanied Wilson throughout his coaching career as evidenced by three 20-win seasons, which includes twice at Odessa, and a pair of NJCAA Regional Tournament appearances – one apiece at Odessa and Tyler. He also coached a NJCAA All-America player in Odessa’s Josh Gray.
Prior to Tyler JC, Wilson served as head coach and athletics director at Christian Life Center Academy in Humble, Texas, from 2006-11. In his five seasons, Wilson directed Christian Life Center Academy to an impressive 180-30 record (.871 winning pct.) to go along with a 2008-09 National Association of Christian Athletes (NACA) National Championship title. The Cougars registered four consecutive 30-plus seasons during his tenure, which included a 42-8 record in 2006-07 and a NACA Semifinal appearance while the 2008-09 team produced a 35-2 mark with the NACA national title.
Wilson, who had 35 players receive a NCAA-I scholarship during his coaching career at Christian Life Center Academy, guided the 2009-10 squad to a 44-6 record and a national number-one prep ranking by the National Post Graduate Athletic Association (NPGAA). Three CLCA alumni are professional basketball players, DeAndre Jordan of the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Los Angeles Clippers, Latavious Williams of the NBA Developmental League’s (NBDL) Tulsa 66ers, and NBA Lottery pick Ben McLemore of the Sacramento Kings.
The coaching career for Wilson began on the AAU circuit in the late 1990’s as the head coach and founder of the East Texas Warriors based out of Palestine, Texas. He then located to nationally-recognized Heritage Christian Academy in Cleveland, Texas, as an assistant coach where he spent two seasons (2004-06) helping with on-floor coaching, player development, and scheduling.
Wilson earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin in 2014 and a master’s degree in health from Texas Southern. In 2019. Wilson was an all-district performer in both basketball and football at Palestine (Texas) High School.
Wilson and his wife, Rochette, have two sons, Carlos Jr., Kobe, and a daughter, Kelis. He’s a devoted member of the Lighthouse Church in Humble, Texas and a National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) member.
