Former UA Track Coach Craig Carter Pleads Guilty To Stalking

TUCSON, AZ – Craig Carter, the former University of Arizona track coach convicted earlier this year to assaulting a student that he coached, has pleaded guilty to more charges.

On Monday, Carter was back in Pima County Superior Court. He pleaded guilty to stalking and harassing a shot putter when she was a student and he was a coach. As part of his plea deal, he will spend up to be three years in prison.

The sentence will run at the same time as whatever sentence he receives for his conviction in March on charges of aggravated assault and assault with a deadly weapon for attacking Baillie Gibson, a shot putter on the team.

While Patch does not normally name sexual assault victims, Gibson has spoken out several times over the years about the attacks. (Get Tucson Patch's daily newsletter and real-time news alerts. Or, find your local Patch here and subscribe).

Carter is assaulted Gibson after she broke off the relationship and said that she was transferring. She says that she was forced into the relationship while he claimed that it was consensual.

Gibson had told University of Arizona police that he had assaulted her while they were in his office. choking her and threatening with a box cutter.

Later that week, he tried to drag her out a classroom but she broke free and reported the incident to University of Arizona police.

Court records indicate that he admitted telling her that "I'll cut your face."

Carter also still faces a civil suit from Gibson.

The Arizona Daily Star reports that because the incidents happened while the was a university employee, the university is obligated to pay for this defense. Since he has been convicted, they will be able to stop those payments and sue to recover taxpayer funds that have already been spent.

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Photo via Pima County Sheriff's Department.