By Steve Kaminski | Skaminsk@mlive.com | Posted March 19, 2018 at 02:40 PM

East Kentwood head coach Jimmy Carter coaches against Caledonia at Caledonia on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018. East Kentwood won 52-45. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)

Coach Carter

East Kentwood's Jimmy Carter was 99 percent sure that this was going to be his final year of coaching girls basketball, even before the season tipped off. 

Not even an undefeated regular season and the fact that the Falcons have plenty of talent returning could change his mind.

The dapper, intense Carter has been seen courtside at three different Grand Rapids area schools, coaching boys and girls teams at various levels throughout the past four decades. But Carter has now called it a career. 

Big plans

"I had talked to East Kentwood about it before the season started that this is going to be my last season," Carter said. "I want to spend more time traveling with my wife (Judy Carter). I love traveling, and my wife and I already have a couple of trips planned."

East Kentwood's head coach Jimmy Carter speaks to his team during East Kentwood's 51-49 win over Grand Rapids Christian at Christian in Grand Rapids on Friday, March 3, 2017. (Mike Clark | MLive.com)

Back-to-back OK Red champs

Carter coached the Falcons to a 20-0 regular-season record this winter before East Kentwood lost to OK Red Conference rival Caledonia in the district tournament quarterfinals. The Falcons were ranked No. 1 most of the year. 

Not only did the Falcons win their second consecutive OK Red championship, but it marked the second-straight year that East Kentwood went undefeated in one of the state's most competitive leagues. 

East Kentwood head coach Jimmy Carter talks to his players during their regional semifinal at Zeeland East High School Tuesday, March 7, 2017. (Cory Olsen | MLive.com)

47-3

Carter has served as Kentwood's girls varsity coach since the 2011-2012 season, and he was an assistant coach for four years prior to that. He guided the Falcons to a regional final his first season, and a year ago, the Falcons were runner-up in the state in Class A. No Grand Rapids area team has won more games than the Falcons over the past two years combined, going 47-3 during that run. 

East Kentwood head coach Jimmy Carter directs his players during East Kentwood's Class A final game against Flushing at MSU's Breslin Center in Lansing on March 18, 2017.

Stops at Ottawa Hills and Creston

Ottawa Hills was Carter's first coaching stop. Carter was the junior varsity boys head coach and a varsity assistant to both the boys and girls teams during the 1980s. That included the 1989 Ottawa girls squad that won the Class A state championship. Two of his five children, Jennifer and Josette Carter, were guards on that team. 

Creston was next. Carter coached the boys varsity as well as the junior varsity girls and boys squads.

East Kentwood head coach Jimmy Carter talks to his players during the Class A semifinal game against Southfield A&T at the Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Neil Blake | MLive.com)

Committed to children

Carter took some time off after the Creston stop before returning to the game to help out the East Kentwood program. He said he is unlikely to return to the court this time, although working with children will continue to be a part of his life.

"I love the game and giving back to the community," Carter said. "It is one of my ways of giving back. But I have other things that I can do. I'm involved in the Masons and Shriners, so I have plenty of opportunity to work with people. There are still other ways to be involved with kids other than basketball."

East Kentwood Head Coach Jimmy Carter celebrates during a game against Grand Rapids Christian at Grand Rapids Christian High School in Grand Rapids on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016. (Allison Farrand | MLive.com)

Former point guard

Carter is retired from General Motors, where he worked for 36 years in the electrical department.

Basketball has long been a part of his life. He played point guard at South High School before graduating in 1964.

"We had great teams," Carter said. "When I played, we were ranked in the state every year. My junior and senior year, we were ranked No. 1."

East Kentwood coach Jimmy Carter shakes an official's hand before East Kentwood's Class A final game against Flushing at MSU's Breslin Center in Lansing on March 18, 2017.

Styling

Not only was Carter one of the area's most successful coaches, but he usually had the competition beat when it came to fashion. Carter usually showed up in a suit, sometimes suspenders and often a bow tie. 

Jimmy Carter (MLive File Photo)

Great seasons ahead

Carter may be leaving, but the Falcons have plenty of talent coming back. 

"Kentwood should have a really good team next year," Carter said. "We had a good freshmen group and a great junior varsity, and we have two kids on the varsity that were freshmen this season. We had a good sophomore and two guards that are coming back. Kentwood is going to be in really good shape.

"There is a good eighth grade group coming in. I would say the next six years, Kentwood should be really straight. I didn't want to walk away with nothing left. But there is a whole lot coming back."