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Pete Carroll: The high school years

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Halls of Fame usually mark the last stop in a great career. Pete Carroll will be inducted into one this month, though it’s hard to imagine it will be his last.

Redwood High School in Larkspur, Calif.,is celebrating its 50th anniversary by creating an Athletic Hall of Fame. Carroll is a member of the inaugural class.

The USC football coach was a three-sport star, lettering in basketball and baseball as well as football (he played quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back). His favorite was ‘whatever was in season.’

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He was named senior athlete of the year in 1969.

Carroll still keeps in touch with a couple of his old teammates and remains close with his high school football coach, Bob Troppmann. Carroll calls him from the sideline before every USC game to see how things are going and ‘to see if there’s anything I need to get into the game plan at the last minute.’

Asked about the affect Troppmann had on his own life, Carroll was enthusiastic. ‘I worked so closely with coach Troppmann for so many years, I am him. For the four years I was in high school, I worked in his camps -- the Diamond Bee Football Camp -- and four when I was in college. Eight straight years of working in the camp and then going to the camps. ... If you can imagine, that’s as long as I was with anybody. He was a huge influence.’

Also in the inaugural class is another of Carroll’s coaches and mentors, Al Endriss, and current USC baseball coach Chad Krueter.

More photos of Carroll as a high school football player:

-- Adam Rose

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