A famous basketball coach will help a new high school principal carry out his message of the importance of academics to his students.

Ken Carter, the former Richmond (Calif.) High School head coach who made national news in 1999 when he benched his entire undefeated basketball team for poor academic performance, and the inspiration for the 2005 film “Coach Carter,” will be guest speaker at Friday’s “A Back to School Explosion.” The event is from 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m. at the Newton Municipal High School Gym, 201 West First St.

Newton County High School Principal Sherrod Miller said Carter’s advocacy for youth and education mirrors what he hopes to achieve during his administration.

“Our kids are very similar to the community he served,” Miller said. “He is a strong advocate for youth and disciplined those boys on the basketball team for not taking education seriously.”

According to his biography, Carter not only closed the Richmond High School gym, but he also banned all basketball-related activities and was prepared to cancel the entire season program, because 15 of the 45 players were not living up to the classroom achievements they agreed to meet in contracts they signed earlier in the semester.

Carter’s appearance is made possible through Innovative Behavioral Services Inc. (Mississippi Tobacco-Free Coalition for Lauderdale and Newton Counties). His presentation is aimed at alleviating tobacco use by youths under the age of 18, as well as motivating them to excel academically.

The presentation, which is open to the public, is funded by the Mississippi Department of Health Office of Tobacco Control. For more information, call Innovative Behavioral Services at (601) 479-0753 or the school office at (601) 683-2232.