APPLETON, Wis. -- Former Marshall University player and coach Cortez Carter has joined the Lawrence football coaching staff.

Carter comes to Lawrence from Marshall, where he has served as an assistant coach for the past two seasons. Carter will serve as the special teams coordinator and defensive line coach for the Vikings.

"I was really attracted to Lawrence, the city of Appleton and the people I met during my visit," Carter said. "I found that athletics is a huge part of the university and everyone is working together to make Lawrence an outstanding athletic program. I feel honored to join this family and watch it all grow together."

A native of Virginia, Carter worked with the defense in in 2017 season and the offense in 2016. Carter, who earned his master's degree in adult continuing education at Marshall in 2017, coached two All-Conference USA selections during his time with the Thundering Herd.

"We are excited to have Coach Carter join our staff," Lawrence head coach Rob McCarthy said. "His defensive knowledge, coupled with his passionate and enthusiastic coaching style, will make him a great addition to our defense, and his innovation and creativity on special teams will allow him to impact those areas as well."

Prior to his work at Marshall, Carter was an assistant coach at Brooke Point High School in Stafford, Va., in 2015. Brooke Point reached the second round of the 2015 Virginia High School League 5A playoffs, and Carter coached one all-state and all-region player and three all-conference selections.

"I'm looking foward to watching our student-athletes succeed on the fields of play and gain a top-tier education," Carter said. "I want to be part of the coaching staff that helps build a great foundation for Lawrence athletics on the field and in the classroom."

During his undergradate days, Carter played linebacker and special teams for Marshall. He was part of the 2014 Conference USA championship team and helped Marshall win the 2011 Beef O'Brady Bowl, the 2013 Military Bowl and the 2014 Boca Raton Bowl. Carter was part of the winning coaching staff in the 2017 New Mexico Bowl.

Carter, who won four letters for the Thundering Herd, earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Marshall in 2014.

Lawrence opens its 2018 season on Sept. 1 when the Vikings host Grinnell College on Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl.