May 2025 Spotlight: John Carrier

It is my great honor to present John Carrier as this month’s recipient of the Nova Classical Spotlight Award. This award was established to recognize individuals who exemplify Nova Classical Academy’s commitment to academic excellence, virtue, and a thriving school community. Through their outstanding dedication, they inspire those around them and contribute meaningfully to our pursuit of learning not for school, but for life.

Coach Carrier has served as the Head Boys Basketball Coach at Nova Classical Academy for the past five years, and his leadership has had a lasting impact on our scholar-athletes, coaching staff, and broader school community. His work goes far beyond the scoreboard — it is rooted in mentorship, personal development, and a consistent effort to connect athletics to Nova’s mission, values, and virtues.

Coach Carrier is intentional in teaching and reinforcing Nova’s core virtues with his players. He leads classroom sessions dedicated to these virtues and consistently integrates them into coaching moments on and off the court. He sets high expectations by modeling them himself using positive, respectful language, engaging with referees and opposing teams with integrity, and promoting sportsmanship at all levels of the program. His players not only learn basketball but also life lessons in dedication, fortitude, teamwork, and character.

Beyond the basketball court, Coach Carrier is deeply engaged with the broader school community. He makes a point of supporting Nova students by attending events beyond athletics, builds relationships with students who aren’t part of the basketball program, and creates inclusive opportunities through developmental camps and teams for younger students interested in the sport. It is not uncommon to see him wandering through the Great Room at the end of the day greeting Nova students. He also emphasizes academic excellence by organizing and supervising study hall time to support the scholarly success of his athletes.

Coach Carrier exemplifies the virtues of fortitude, wisdom, and justice persevering through the challenges of competitive athletics and developing a comprehensive basketball program, making thoughtful decisions that reflect our values, and showing deep care for the well-being and growth of all students, not just those he coaches directly. He is also an exceptional mentor to his assistant coaches and peers, continually investing in the strength of Nova’s entire athletic program.

I am proud to recognize and celebrate Coach John Carrier for his outstanding contributions to Nova Classical Academy. His leadership, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to our students make him a true role model in our community.

It’s a Great Day to Be a Knight!

Dr. Brett Wedlund
Executive Director