Women's Basketball
Carter Caplan
- Title:
- Director of Basketball Operations
- Email:
- ccaplan@smu.edu
- Phone:
- 214-980-4431
Caplan leads the operational strategy of the women's basketball program, overseeing team travel, non-conference scheduling, budget management, and key administrative initiatives. He directs all team travel logistics, manages the program's operational budget, and supports NIL opportunities through the coordination and execution of student-athlete partnership commitments and contractual obligations. Caplan also cultivates relationships with university partners, athletic department stakeholders, donors, and supporters, helping strengthen connections between the program, SMU Athletics, and the broader campus community.
Prior to joining the Mustangs, Caplan spent three seasons as Director of Basketball Operations at Arizona State University. In Tempe, he oversaw team travel, game-day operations, and daily program logistics while serving as a primary liaison between the women's basketball program and the athletic department. He also helped navigate the program through Arizona State's historic transition from the Pac-12 Conference to the Big 12 Conference, coordinating operational adjustments associated with conference realignment.
Before Arizona State, Caplan served as Assistant Director of Basketball Operations at the University of Delaware, where he assisted with scheduling, practice coordination, recruiting events, community engagement initiatives, and student-athlete programming.
Caplan arrived at Delaware following a successful tenure as Director of Basketball Operations at Niagara University. During his time with the Purple Eagles, he managed the program's annual operating budget, coordinated all travel and team logistics, and oversaw the program's student manager and practice squad operations. He successfully guided the program through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, adapting to evolving health protocols, travel restrictions, and scheduling changes.
A 2020 graduate of Drexel University, Caplan earned a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management with minors in Business Administration and Sports Coaching Leadership. He served as Head Manager for the Drexel Women's Basketball program from 2016-20, supporting recruiting, analytics, team communications, and daily operations under Head Coach Denise Dillon. He also completed Division I athletic administration experiences at the University of Pennsylvania, Villanova University, and Temple University, with focuses in digital media, development, and compliance.
Beyond his institutional responsibilities, Caplan serves as the Assistant Director of Women's Basketball for the Jewish Coaches Association, where he is responsible for expanding the organization's presence and engagement across women's basketball. Since 2023, he has led the planning and execution of the JCA Women's Basketball Final Four Event, creating networking, educational, and professional development opportunities for coaches and administrators worldwide. Caplan is also passionate about developing future basketball professionals through his involvement with Grow the Game, where he mentors student managers and emerging leaders while providing guidance, professional development, and networking opportunities designed to prepare the next generation of coaches, operations administrators, and athletics professionals for careers in college basketball. In recognition of his leadership and professional growth, he was named to the 2025 Jewish Coaches Association Rising Professionals Class and, in 2023, was selected as one of only 46 full-time coaches and administrators nationwide to attend the prestigious NCAA Basketball Coaches Academy at the NCAA Headquarters in Indianapolis. His additional honors include recognition as a 2017 Society for Collegiate Leadership and Achievement recipient, the 2018 Drexel University Rising Leader of the Year, and the 2018 Dave O'Brien Leadership Award.
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