Sean Carter enters his fifth season as head coach of the Idaho State volleyball program in 2026. Since taking over the Bengals in the summer of 2022, Carter has compiled a 55-65 overall record and a 29-35 mark in Big Sky Conference play. Carter came to Pocatello after spending the previous eight seasons as the associate head coach at Wichita State and is the 11th head coach in program history.
Under Carter's leadership, Idaho State has returned to prominence in the Big Sky Conference. The Bengals have produced multiple All-Big Sky selections, the 2022 Big Sky Freshman of the Year, and have qualified for the Big Sky Conference Tournament in each of the last four seasons. In 2025, Carter guided Idaho State to one of the most memorable postseason runs in program history as the Bengals became the first No. 8 seed in Big Sky Conference history to advance to the conference tournament championship match. The appearance marked Idaho State's first trip to the Big Sky Tournament Championship since 2015.
Carter was recognized nationally as an AVCA Thirty Under 30 Award recipient, honoring up-and-coming coaches in collegiate volleyball.
Before arriving at Idaho State, Carter spent eight seasons at Wichita State, where he helped lead the Shockers to three NCAA Tournament appearances, one National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) appearance, two Missouri Valley Conference championships and one American Athletic Conference championship. In 2017, Wichita State earned a Top 16 national seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Beginning in 2017, Carter oversaw Wichita State's starting lineups, offensive scouting reports and in-match offensive adjustments while also coaching the Shockers' setters, middle blockers and first-contact systems.
Prior to Wichita State, Carter served as the first assistant coach at The Master's College from 2012-14, where he helped coach the 2012 NAIA Freshman of the Year and a First Team All-American.
A graduate of the University of Arizona, Carter earned his bachelor's degree in psychology. He played on Arizona's club volleyball team, competing at the USA Volleyball Adult National Championships, after playing libero at CSU Northridge from 2006-08.
