Janet Carl grew up with brothers in Richmond, Indiana playing four sports in golf, basketball, badminton and track and field before graduating from Richmond Senior High in 1977.
The 63-year-old played basketball and golf at Western Kentucky University for one year before transferring to the University of Alabama to focus solely on golf. She wants to use those experiences to relate to teenagers in her new role that started Monday as Director of Athletics for the Notre Dame Academy Pandas.
“We are excited to welcome Janet Carl back to NDA,” said Jack VonHandorf, Notre Dame Principal/Interim President. “Janet’s extensive experience in coaching, combined with her deep understanding of the Notre Dame Academy community uniquely positions her to lead the athletic department with distinction. Her proven ability to inspire student-athletes, instill a strong work ethic, and promote character development aligns perfectly with the values and mission of Notre Dame Academy.”
Carl takes over for Myanna Webster, who resigned in February after nine years in that job at the all-girls high school. Webster cited spending more time with her three kids as the reason for stepping down.
“Over the past year and a half, they’re doing their own things. Last fall was the first time that it was really difficult for me to kind of balance working here and being at my kids’ stuff so I did a lot of prayer and reflection over Christmas break,” Webster said. “I came and talked to Jack right after Christmas in January and said, ‘I’m going to have to split ways. This isn’t working. How do we make the smoothest transition for Notre Dame?’ I wanted to finish out the school year if possible and wanted some time to train the new person just because I care very deeply and have enjoyed my time here.”
Carl brings an extensive background to the position, particularly in golf. Carl served as Notre Dame’s head golf coach from 1999-2001, winning the Cincinnati Enquirer Coach of the Year honor all three years and the Cincinnati Post Coach of the Year award in 2000 and 2001. Notre Dame won Region 6 championships in 2000 and 2001 and finished region runner-up in 1999.
“I just was really interested in expanding what I’ve been doing with athletes so this gives me a chance to work all different teams,” Carl said. “I want to make certain that they’re getting the experience that I had as a young athlete, not only the athletic and academic skills, but also the life skills that go with it. I feel as if being a transformative leader is best done at this level.”
Carl’s daughter Alex played golf and basketball at Notre Dame before graduating in 2009. Alex is listed among the golf record-holders at the school. Current head basketball coach Kes Murphy served as an assistant during that time.
“It will be fun to still be to stay connected with the team and use my expertise there,” Carl said. “I see it as a carry-over to a lot of different sports. I very much want to carry forward the things that were done for me in my past. I want to help these ladies break through whatever barriers they have whether it’s a life or sport situation and how we utilize sport to do that.”
Carl had been the women’s golf coach at the University of Cincinnati the last 20 years. She led both golf teams from 2005-2009 before taking over as Director of Golf for the Bearcats in addition to the women’s head coach role. Carl won 16 championships in her tenure and coached 10 all-conference performers.
Carl moved to the Cincinnati area in 1993 serving as an assistant director of the Ladies Professional Golf Association Junior Girls Golf Club in 1994 before earning the promotion to executive director. In 1996, Carl took the Head Golf Pro role at the Woodland and Dunham Golf Courses in western Cincinnati. Carl took over as Area Golf Specialist for the Northern Kentucky Division of the American Cancer Society before serving as an account executive for Lynx Golf.
Notre Dame has a strong athletic history. The volleyball team has won the state championship two of the past three seasons and 10 overall, which is second behind Louisville Assumption’s 22. The soccer team owns four state championship with the last one taking place in 2021. The softball and basketball teams last won region championships in 2017 and 2013 respectively. A number of individuals have performed well at the state level in swimming and diving, track and field and golf as well.
“I think that’s really just working with coaches making sure they’re instilling in their athletes what it means to be excellent,” Carl said. “That’s attention to small details. In 20 years of coaching, I could be reminded of that. I just really want to be hands on with the coaches and get to know the players also. We want to help the coaches with their needs and wants to help them improve their programs. I want to be that supportive role.”
One of the first decisions Carl made on the job is retaining Webster’s assistant AD Susan Colvin.