In 1999, Ken Carter accepts the job of basketball coach for his old high school in a poor area of Richmond, CA. As much dismayed by the poor attitudes of his players as well as their dismal play performance, Carter sets about to change both. He imposes a strict regime typified in written contracts that demand respectful behavior, a dress code and good grades for players. Any initial resistance is soon dispelled as the team under Carter’s tutelage becomes a undefeated competitor. However, when the overconfident team’s behavior begins to stray with too many doing poorly in class, Carter takes immediate action. To the outrage of the team, the school and the community, Carter cancels all team activities and locks the court until the team shows acceptable academic improvement. In the ensuing debate, Carter fights to keep his methods, determined to show the boys that they need good values for their futures and eventually finds he has affected them more profoundly than he ever expected.
《卡特教练》又名《铁血教练 》、《放牛班的严冬》，根据高中篮球队教练肯•卡特的真实故事改编而成。 里士满高中篮球队原本从未在任何比赛中获胜过，是一支屡败屡战的队伍，这一切在卡特教练（塞缪尔•杰克逊 Samuel L. Jackson 饰）执教之后发生了变化。他相信这支队伍在他的带领下可以成为最优秀的篮球队，所以他要求队员和他签订一个协议，约定如果队伍不团结或是成绩不佳就不再继续参加任何比赛。在他的带领下，这支队伍开始走上了上坡路，最后成为无人能敌的长胜王。但是在1999年举行的国家锦标赛上，队员们的表现却十分不尽人意，这让卡特教练沮丧不已，他真的关闭了训练馆，禁止队伍继续参加任何比赛。此举引起了极大的反响，他一时成了大众议论的焦点，有人赞赏他视篮球为生命的品格，但更多的人对他的举动表示不解，甚至是批评。