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Mike Carl, the longtime girls basketball coach at Lakeland Christian, has stepped down to become the athletic director at Lakes Academy. He will start his new role on July 1 after 18 seasons with Lakeland Christian.
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Longtime Lakeland Christian basketball coach Mike Carl steps down
Lakeland Chrisitan girls basketball coach Mike Carl led his team deep in the postseason once more in his near-two decades as head coach. But after the regional quarterfinal game against John Carrol Catholic concluded, it was a different type of moment.
Because he accepted a job as an athletic director at Lakes Academy, Carl informed the school of his decision. A brief team meeting transpired the day after, telling his team he won’t be returning and will start his new job July 1.
“Lakeland Christian will always be very special to me,” Carl said. “I was blessed to coach for 18 seasons in the girls basketball program ― six years of middle school girls basketball and twelve years of varsity girls basketball. My wife teaches music at LCS, and both of our daughters graduated from LCS. We have strong relationships with LCS colleagues and families. I truly appreciate the opportunity LCS gave me, and I have a lot of tremendous memories of players, coaches, parents and referees.
“It was always my desire to use the game of basketball to teach life lessons and to help the players to grow closer in their walk with God as well.”
Carl savored in those moments for sure. But it was a couple of years ago when, at the very least, the thought process of potentially leaving started.
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In August of 2023, Carl lost his brother, Brent Carl, in a brief bout to cancer. And after experiencing that untimely moment, Lakeland Christian’s longtime girls coach really pondered about his future, praying on what to do next. Additionally, his family grew even more thanks to four more grandchildren, and he said he really wanted the chance to see them even more.
After all, it’s been 30 years since he taught physical education and has coached, among other jobs.
Mike Carl resigned to accept a position as the athletic director at Lakes Academy.
Mike Carl coached at Lakeland Christian for 18 seasons, including 12 years as the varsity girls basketball coach.
Mike Carl will start his new role as athletic director at Lakes Academy on July 1.
Mike Carl led the Lakeland Christian girls basketball team deep into the postseason multiple times during his coaching tenure.

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Before Lakeland Christian, Carl was an athletic director at Ross Corners Christian Academy in Vestal, New York from 1991 to 1999 before becoming the varsity boys basketball coach at Timothy Christian School in Piscataway 2000-2007; he was also an athletic director 2005-2007.
Carl and his family went on to make their move to Lakeland Christian in 2007, experiencing some seminal moments as the head coach, eventually winning district and reaching the regional finals in 2016.
He reached this plateau once more in 2025 with two-time all-county guard Rudi Jessee, who had her best years under the tutelage of Carl, though she started basketball at an early age because both her parents are college basketball coaches.
“He gave me the opportunity to lead our team the last two years as a ninth and 10 th grader,” Jessee said. “He had confidence in me and gave me the greenlight, allowing me to make mistakes but also to grow as a player. He constantly told me he was proud of me and believed in me.”
He believed in his purpose as well.
“I have always enjoyed the games, practices, late night film sessions, planning and all that goes into being a coach,” Carl said.
The past 14 years he’s also taught elementary physical education, but the opportunity to be an athletic director at his church was just too good for him to pass on.
“I have always enjoyed building new programs and I am looking forward to building relationships in the community and mentoring student-athletes and coaches. Future goals would be to develop athletic policies and procedures,” Carl said.
With Carol moving on as an athletic director, Jessee intends to transfer to Victory Christian in 2026 to evolve more as a basketball player, she said.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Longtime Lakeland Christian basketball coach Mike Carl moves on to AD