Coach Chris Carroll brings a strong foundation of leadership, experience, and passion to the Bladen County Starz coaching staff. As one of the original coaches when the Starz program was founded in 2022, Coach Carroll has been instrumental in building a culture rooted in discipline, development, and character—on and off the field.
Before joining the Starz family, Chris served as a Varsity Baseball coach at the high school level for five years, where he created a culture that developed student-athletes who excelled not only in competition but in the classroom and in life. His coaching success includes mentoring several players who have gone on to compete at the NCAA Division I level—a testament to his ability to recognize talent, cultivate skill, and encourage consistent growth.
A former multi-sport athlete in high school, Coach Carroll’s heart has always been with baseball. That passion now fuels his approach to coaching softball, where he brings the same competitive drive and dedication to helping athletes reach their full potential.
Coach Carroll’s coaching philosophy is built on four pillars: encouragement, teamwork, passion, and integrity.
- Encouragement is the heartbeat of his approach. Coach Carroll believes that positive reinforcement builds confidence, and confident athletes take risks, push boundaries, and become leaders. He strives to be a coach who lifts players up—especially when they need it most.
- Teamwork is emphasized in every practice and game. Individual talent is important, but Coach Carroll teaches that success comes from unity, communication, and sacrifice. He instills in his players that no one wins alone, and the best teams are made of selfless athletes who trust and support one another.
- Passion is what drives performance. Coach Carroll coaches with energy and enthusiasm, and he encourages his players to play the game they love with heart. He wants his athletes to bring intensity and joy to every inning and to never take the opportunity to play for granted.
- Integrity is non-negotiable. Coach Carroll expects his players to compete with class, respect their opponents and officials, and represent their team and community with honor. He believes that who you are when no one is watching matters just as much as who you are under the lights.
Coach Carroll is not only committed to developing talented athletes—he is dedicated to helping shape responsible, confident, and character-driven young women. Whether correcting a swing, encouraging leadership, or celebrating personal growth, he sees every interaction as an opportunity to make a lasting impact. The greatest joy he has is being able to coach alongside his wife and to coach his bonus daughter on the field and catching endless buckets of balls in his glove and knees as she develops into not only a great pitcher, but a phenomenal young lady.