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Carter Caplan

Carter Caplan

  • Title
    Director of Basketball Operations
  • Email
    ccaplan@smu.edu
  • Phone
    214-980-4431
Carter Caplan enters his first season on the Hilltop after joining the SMU women's basketball program as the Director of Basketball Operations in April of 2025. 

"I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Coach Barnes for this incredible opportunity. I am excited to work alongside an administration that is so supportive and invested in the growth of women’s basketball. I look forward to meeting our fans and supporters, as well as deepening our relationship with the Dallas community. I'm thrilled tto be a part of this is a new era of SMU Women’s Basketball and can't wait to see us rise to new heights together, on and off the court. Pony Up!"

Prior to becoming a Mustangs, Caplan spent the last three season as the Director of Basketball Operation for the Arizona State women's basketball team. At ASU he planned and oversaw team travel, gameday operations, and scheduled all daily program functions while also acting as the liaison between the program and other athletic programs and campus departments. Caplan assisted in guided the program though its transition from the Pac 12 to the Big 12.    

Caplan was named to the 2025 Jewish Coaches Association Rising Professionals and in May of 2023, was one of 46 full-time professionals selected to participate in the NCAA Basketball Coaches Academy.  

Before leaving for ASU in 2022 Caplan an Assistant Director of Basketball Operation at Delaware. He was responsible for assisting and coordinating game scheduling and team practices. He also organized community, on-campus recruiting, and team events. Carter used Synergy, a video platform used to capture, produce, and analyze video content, for all practice and game day video footage review. Caplan also managed a team of 11 team managers and 15 male practice squad players.

Caplan arrived in Newark following a stint at mid-major DI Niagara University where he served as Director of Basketball Operations since October 2020. At Niagara, Caplan maintained an annual operating budget of $375,000+, coordinated all facets of team travel, and managed team managers and practice players.

Carter is no stranger to the Colonial Athletic Association as he is a 2020 graduate of Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA, where he earned a B.S. in Sport Management with a minor in Business Administration & Sports Coaching Leadership.

During undergrad at Drexel, Carter served as the Head Manager for the Dragons Women’s Basketball Team from January 2016 to March 2020 under famed Head Coach Denise Dillon. With the Dragons, Caplan logged recruiting questionnaires, created monthly newsletters, tracked analytical data during games, and facilitated team meals.

While at Drexel, Caplan participated in numerous Co-Op experiences including stops at University of Pennsylvania, Villanova University, and Temple University where he served in different capacities such as digital media, athletic development, and athletic compliance.

Caplan’s achievements include the 2017 The Society for Collegiate Leadership and Achievement recipient, 2018 Drexel University Rising Leader of the Year, and 2018 Dave O’Brien Leadership Award.