Major Carter Reading, USMC was appointed head coach of the Navy sprint football program during the spring of 2024, becoming the 33rd head coach in the program’s history.
Navy sprint football finished the 2025 season 8-0 overall, winning the CSFL Championship. The championship gave Navy its 41st conference championship overall and the 34th outright title in program history.
Navy needed overtime to record a 20-17 victory over Army at Shea Stadium in West Point, N.Y. in the annual Star Game. The Black Knights forced overtime, tying the game at 17-17 late in the fourth quarter. After an unsuccessful field goal attempt by the home team in the extra period, the Midshipmen claimed the win with a 36-yard field goal by sophomore Jacori Sutton to finish the season undefeated and win the Collegiate Sprint Football League Championship.
The CSFL announced its 2025 postseason list of All-League honorees. The Navy sprint football team had 14 different players earn All-CSFL accolades, with junior running back Hunter Gennicks being named Offensive Player of the Year, senior linebacker Jake Wolinski claiming Defensive Player of the Year, and sophomore kicker Jacori Sutton earning Special Teams Player of the Year.
The CSFL announced its 2025 Most Valuable Player and Navy junior running back Hunter Gennicks was selected. The MVP was chosen by a vote from the league coaches, who selected from the conference major award winners.
The Midshipmen tallied six First Team All-CSFL honors with seven players being named to the second team and one claiming honorable mention distinction. Junior Hunter Gennicks, senior Jake Wolinski, and sophomore Jacori Sutton were also named All-Collegiate Sprint Football League, joining junior offensive lineman John Dutton, senior offensive lineman Kerry Johnson, and senior defensive lineman Tyler Meisenzahl on the first team. Junior quarterback Luke O'Connell, sophomore running back Broderick Freeman, and sophomore wide receiver Jake Berger were second-team offensive selections, while junior defensive lineman Mick Tabor, senior linebacker Seamas Carrasco, senior defensive back Owen Erker, and junior defensive back Tucker Opdahl received second-team honors on defense. Junior linebacker Sam Stotler earned honorable mention accolades.
As a team, Navy scored 321 points (40.1 pts per game), while holding opponents to 90 (11.3) with one shutout. The Mids amassed 1,846 yards rushing with 1,059 passing yards for 2,905 yards of total offense. Navy scored 45 total touchdowns with three field goals, while limiting opponents to 14 total scores (12 TD, 2 FG). The Mids’ defense picked off 14 passes, while registering 67 tackles for loss with 16 sacks and adding 28 pass breakups.
The CSFL announced the 2025 All-Academic Team and nine (9) student-athletes from the Navy sprint football team were recognized on the 110-person team. Junior Christian Conley, sophomore Layton Dillard, sophomore Tom Gonglik, senior Kerry Johnson, junior Brennan McElfresh, junior Tucker Opdahl, senior John Sheddy, junior Will Trechter, and senior Jake Wolinski were all recognized for the Midshipmen.
In his first season at the helm in 2024, Reading directed the sprint football team to a 6-2 overall record, including a 3-0 mark in the CSFL South Division and a spot in the CSFL Championship Game.
As a team, Navy scored 209 points (26.1 pts per game), while holding opponents to 88 (11.0) with three shutouts. The Mids amassed 1,688 yards rushing with 1,180 passing yards for 2,868 yards of total offense. Navy scored 27 total touchdowns with eight field goals, while limiting opponents to 14 total scores (12 TD, 2 FG). The Mids’ defense picked off 14 passes, while registering 56 tackles for loss with 19 sacks and adding 17 pass breakups.
At the conclusion of the season, the CSFL announced its 2024 postseason list of All-League honorees and Navy had 13 different players earn All-Conference accolades. The Midshipmen tallied seven First Team All-CSFL honors – defensive back Seamus Carrasco, offensive lineman John Dutton, running back Hunter Gennicks, offensive lineman Kerry Johnson, defensive lineman David Niski, defensive lineman Mick Tabor, and linebacker Jake Wolinski; four second team accolades – quarterback Luke Wagner, wide receiver Chris Stumpf, kicker Jacori Sutton, and linebacker Simon Burger; and two honorable mention selections – defensive lineman Major Kent and defensive back Sean Bettwy.
Academically, 16 student-athletes from Navy were recognized on the 119-person CSFL All-Academic Team. Seamas Carrasco, John Dutton, Robert Flores, Kerry Johnson, Andy Jones, Major Kent, Lane Landas, Alvin Liu, Tyler Meisenzahl, David Niski, Luke O'Connell, Tucker Opdahl, John Sheddy, Jackson Suddath, Luke Wagner, and Jake Wolinski were all recognized for the Midshipmen.
A 2016 graduate of the Naval Academy, Reading was a member of the Navy sprint football team from 2012 to 2015 and served as a coaching TAD (Temporary Assignment Duty) for the 2016 season. During his tenure, he helped lead the Midshipmen to a 30-5 overall record, including a 24-4 mark as a student-athlete, including winning the Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL) Championship in 2014. Reading and Navy earned a pair of Star victories, once as a player and another as a coach.
In 2016, Reading graduated from the Naval Academy and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps.
He attended The Basic School in Quantico, Va. from 2016-17. Reading departed Quantico as a pilot/student at MATSG-21 in 2017, honing his skills through rigorous pilot training at MATSG-22 from 2017-18. His commitment to excellence was evident as he pursued advanced training with VT-27 “Boomers” in 2018, followed by immersive experiences with HT-18 “Hellions” and VT-35 “Stingrays” in 2019, specializing in TH-57B/C and T-44C respectively.
As he continued to ascend in his aviation career, Reading’s determination propelled him to new heights in his primary platform, the MV-22B Osprey. While training with the VMMT-204 “Raptors” in 2020, he worked in the logistics department and as the Navigation Officer. Upon completing his training with the Fleet Replacement Squadron, Reading departed for MCAS Miramar where Reading’s leadership qualities came to the forefront, as he assumed the roles of Navigation Officer and Operations Officer with VMM-362 “Ugly Angels,” where he operated the MV-22B from 2020-24.
His commitment to duty saw him deploy with VMM-362 as part of SPMAGTF-CR21.1 from 2020-21, gaining invaluable experience in high-pressure environments and earning an Air Medal. He spent a brief period in Al-Udeid, Qatar with the Combined Air Operations Center. Building on this foundation, he was assigned as Aviation Life Support System Officer as well as MV-22B Pilot with VMM-362 (REIN) “Ugly Angels” from 2021-23, where he deployed with the 13TH MEU from 2022-23. His expertise and leadership qualities were recognized, leading to his appointment as Aviation Safety Officer and the Director of Safety and Standardization with VMM-362 “Ugly Angels” until 2024, where he played a pivotal role in ensuring the safety and efficiency of aviation operations.
Upon his return, Reading continued his service as the Director of Safety and Standardization until he was chosen to lead the Navy sprint football team as head coach.
Reading is married to the former Nina Smith and the couple have three children, daughter Emerson Lou, son Carter Jay, and daughter Leighton Mae. In his spare time, Reading enjoys spending time with his family, wake boarding, training for triathlons, playing pickleball, and a quick round of golf.
