Tension mounted as the Richmond High Oilers faced the upcoming basketball championship. The town was wild with excitement over their undefeated team and the bleachers were filled with cheering fans for every game. No one could imagine that on 4 January 1999 the community would erupt in dissension and so many lives would change forever when Coach Ken Carter padlocked the gym, refusing the players access for failing to keep up their grades.

Inspired by a true story, Coach Carter is an inspirational account of controversial high school basketball coach Ken Carter (Samuel L Jackson), who received both high praise and staunch criticism when he made national news for benching his entire undefeated team for poor academic performance. Set in Richmond, California, this rousing, heartfelt portrayal of human courage and conviction is about overcoming the obstacles of your environment and showing young men a future that stretches beyond gangs, drugs, prison, and yes... even basketball.

Paramount Pictures presents an MTV Films Tollin/Robbins production of a Thomas Carter Film, Coach Carter, starring Samuel L. Jackson. Directed by Thomas Carter, written by Mark Schwahn and John Gatins, the film is inspired by the life of Ken Carter. Produced by Brian Robbins, Mike Tollin and David Gale, and executive-produced by Van Toffler, Thomas Carter, Sharla Sumpter and Caitlin Scanlon, the film also stars Robert Ri’chard, Rob Brown, Ashanti and Debbi Morgan.

Paramount Pictures is a part of the entertainment operations of Viacom Inc., one of the world's largest entertainment and media companies and a leader in the production, promotion and distribution of entertainment, news, sports and music.