Kemp Carr

Bio

Head Coach Kemp Carr enters his 33rd season in coaching and his third year back at his alma mater as the head football coach of the Salem Rams. Throughout his career, Coach Carr has compiled a 91-66 record, building successful programs through a commitment to excellence, discipline, and player development.
A Salem High School graduate, Carr was a Group 1 First Team All-State quarterback and made an immediate impact as a freshman on Salem's 1988 Royal Division Championship team, which finished with a 10-1 record. He continued his football career at Montclair State University, where he played cornerback while earning a degree in Exercise Science.

The helm of Coach Carr's coaching career came in 2012 at Penns Grove High School, where his high-powered offense set a New Jersey state record by scoring 621 points in a single season. That historic team finished 12-0, averaging 51.8 points per game, and captured the first sectional championship in Penns Grove football history. During his tenure with the Red Devils, Carr compiled a 74-34 record, guided the program to eight playoff appearances, four South Jersey Group 1 championship game appearances, and one sectional title. Carr later accepted the challenge of rebuilding the Winslow Township football program. After the Eagles had won just seven games over the previous four seasons, he transformed the program, leading Winslow to an 11-18 record over three years.

Coach Carr returned to his alma mater in 2024 with a vision of restoring the Salem football program by building a culture founded on integrity, discipline, accountability, and excellence—both on and off the field. His first season back in 2024 was a rebuilding year, as the Rams finished 0-9 while laying the foundation for the future. That foundation paid immediate dividends in 2025, as Carr orchestrated one of South Jersey's biggest turnarounds. The Rams finished 6-5, earned a berth in the South Jersey Group 1 semifinals, and reestablished themselves as a competitive program.

Under Carr's leadership, Salem also celebrated significant individual achievements. The Rams produced eight First Team West Jersey Football League All-Conference selections on offense and defense, along with two Honorable Mention All-Conference honorees. One standout defender shattered Salem's single-season sack record and earned the opportunity to continue his football career at Temple University.
Now entering his third season back at Salem, Coach Carr remains committed to building a championship-caliber program while preparing young men for success beyond football. His philosophy emphasizes developing student-athletes who excel not only in competition but also as leaders in the classroom and throughout their community.