Wrestling
Nate Carr Jr.
- Title:
- Head Wrestling Coach
- Email:
- nacarr1@davidson.edu
Nate Carr, Jr. is in his fifth season as the head coach of the Davidson wrestling program.
In his second season, Carr guided Peake to his second consecutive SoCon final at 157 pounds as the No. 2 seed. Peake ended the season ranked No. 33 in the country and won 12 of his last 15 matches. As a result, Peake was selected as the first alternate for the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships.
Carr also helped newcomers Tyler-Xavier McKnight (149) and Wyatt Ferguson to the SoCon's All-Freshman team. McKnight earned 21 wins including an upset win over No. 32 Derek Raike (Ohio) at the Navy Classic. Ferguson picked up 15 wins in his freshman season with an impressive 6-2 mark in SoCon duals.
In his first season at the helm, Carr coached SoCon runner-up and Peake as an All-Freshman selection. Peake set the program record for the highest winning percentage by a freshman after he went 15-4 (78.9%). Peake also represented Puerto Rico at the U20 World Championships competing in the freestyle category at 74kg.
Carr also helped coach Bryce Sanderlin to a 20-win season in his first year as head coach, the program's first wrestler with 20 or more wins since 2014. In total, the Wildcats had three wrestlers place at the 2023 SoCon Championships: Tanner Peake (2nd, 157), Bryce Sanderlin (4th, 165), and Jake Fernicola (4th, HWT).
Prior to Davidson, Carr was the assistant coach at Lock Haven University. In his five years on staff, Carr helped the program secure its first MAC Championship in program history and contributed to winning the first EWL title in 21 years. This gave Lock Haven back-to-back conference championships for the first time school history.
During Carr's career, he has coached 48 NCAA qualifiers, 11 All Americans, 2 NCAA Finalists, 1 NCAA Champion and 1 Junior World Champion.
Nate was raised with Carr Legacy Wrestling Values. His family has had eight All-American honors including his father, Nate Carr, Sr. a three-time NCAA Champion and Olympic Bronze Medalist.
His younger brother David was a four-time All American and two-time National Champion at Iowa State.
Carr and his wife Kelsey reside in nearby Troutman with their son Brooks.
The 2025–26 campaign featured significant milestones for the program, highlighted by Anderson Heap securing a spot as an NCAA Qualifier by virtue of winning the Southern Conference title at 149 pounds.
Under Carr's leadership, the Wildcats finished 5th overall at the 2026 SoCon Championships with 42.5 points, its highest total since the 1967 season. Along with Heap's title, Bryce Griffin and Marc Koch took home third in their respective weight classes.
During the regular season, Davidson set a program record for conference victories to finish tied for second in the SoCon standings.
The 2024-25 campaign was another year of growth for the Wildcats, including Tanner Peake as a mainstay in the National Rankings.
In his second season, Carr guided Peake to his second consecutive SoCon final at 157 pounds as the No. 2 seed. Peake ended the season ranked No. 33 in the country and won 12 of his last 15 matches. As a result, Peake was selected as the first alternate for the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships.
Carr also helped newcomers Tyler-Xavier McKnight (149) and Wyatt Ferguson to the SoCon's All-Freshman team. McKnight earned 21 wins including an upset win over No. 32 Derek Raike (Ohio) at the Navy Classic. Ferguson picked up 15 wins in his freshman season with an impressive 6-2 mark in SoCon duals.
In his first season at the helm, Carr coached SoCon runner-up and Peake as an All-Freshman selection. Peake set the program record for the highest winning percentage by a freshman after he went 15-4 (78.9%). Peake also represented Puerto Rico at the U20 World Championships competing in the freestyle category at 74kg.
Carr also helped coach Bryce Sanderlin to a 20-win season in his first year as head coach, the program's first wrestler with 20 or more wins since 2014. In total, the Wildcats had three wrestlers place at the 2023 SoCon Championships: Tanner Peake (2nd, 157), Bryce Sanderlin (4th, 165), and Jake Fernicola (4th, HWT).
Prior to Davidson, Carr was the assistant coach at Lock Haven University. In his five years on staff, Carr helped the program secure its first MAC Championship in program history and contributed to winning the first EWL title in 21 years. This gave Lock Haven back-to-back conference championships for the first time school history.
During Carr's career, he has coached 48 NCAA qualifiers, 11 All Americans, 2 NCAA Finalists, 1 NCAA Champion and 1 Junior World Champion.
Nate was raised with Carr Legacy Wrestling Values. His family has had eight All-American honors including his father, Nate Carr, Sr. a three-time NCAA Champion and Olympic Bronze Medalist.
His younger brother David was a four-time All American and two-time National Champion at Iowa State.
Carr and his wife Kelsey reside in nearby Troutman with their son Brooks.
Sunday, March 15
Tuesday, November 04
Saturday, December 16
Friday, December 08
