Triton Women's Basketball
Head Coach

Craig Carlson
Head Coach

Hometown: Heron Lake, MN
High School: Heron Lake High School
Alma Mater: Worthington Community College
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Degree: B.S. Vocational Agriculture Education

In his first six years at Iowa Central, Coach Craig Carlson guided the Tritons to a 77-25 conference record and 149-49 overall. Carlson plans to continue to use an up-tempo, high pressure game plan that has brought success to the Triton program his first six seasons.

Carlson was a prep standout at tiny Heron Lake High School in southwestern Minnesota. He then was a 2 sport letter winner at Worthington (Minnesota) Community College in Baseball as a pitcher and in Basketball, as a guard. Carlson won the "Mr. Hustle" award for his play as point-guard in the Bluejay attack where he played for legendary coach, Arlo Mogck. Carlson went on to the University of Minnesota, where he walked on and earned a varsity basketball letter on a Golden Gopher team whose members included 4 future NBA players and a future NBA coach. Carlson made a name for himself among his teammates and coaches for his hard-nosed work habits and for his intense defense.

Carlson coached and taught high school immediately after college, but then he left full-time teaching to join his father in the family business. He and his wife Madonna raised a family of three: 2 daughters and a son. Even while running a business, Carlson never gave up the sidelines completely, coaching both boys and girls at lower levels on a part-time basis. But it was only in 2000, after selling the business and moving to Iowa when circumstances allowed Carlson to pursue basketball coaching on a serious basis again.

"The game of basketball has given so much to me. I am excited to give something back. Above all I hope the fans get some sense of the pride our program will take in giving every ounce of effort and playing this game with the intensity, creativity, and work ethic that make basketball simply the best sport in the world. I feel privileged to be able to share my love for this game with my players and with the ICCC community."