He is the head football coach at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, a position he has held since December 2018.

Prior to his time as head coach, he was the defensive coordinator under his father, Don Carthel, at West Texas A&M University, from 2006 to 2012.

[2] He started at linebacker for the Rams during his senior season in 1999 and helped lead them to a Lone Star Conference title.

[9] The Lions stunned the crowd by jumping out to a 14–7 lead, but were bested by a prolific Buffalo team 68–28,[10] and then dropped a 30–24 decision to Midwestern State the next week in Commerce.

[20] They opened the season with a record-breaking performance against East Texas Baptist in which they scored 98 points and amassed 986 total yards of offense and 13 touchdowns.

In that win the Lions set national and conference records for points scored, yards gained, and total offense in a game.

The Lions were left out of the NCAA playoffs, but were invited back to the postseason, which resulted in a 72–21 win over East Central University in the C.H.A.M.P.S.

The Lions were guided by former University of Nevada QB Harrison Stewart, Running Back Richard Cooper, Receiver Lance Evans, and Defensive Standouts Toni Pulu and Cole Pitts.

Carthel's Lions started the season ranked 9th in the nation and picked to win the Lone Star Conference for the third straight year.

The Lions ran out to a 5–0 record to start the season, but lost by 1 point to Midwestern State in a back and forth affair in Commerce.

Return specialist Shawn Hooks and linebacker Uriah Harris were both named All-Region team and the Lions placed 8 members on the All-Lone Star Conference first team, including Cooper, Perez, Hooks, Harris, Dominguez, Machorro, Defensive lineman Tavita Faaiu, and Wideout Lance Evans.

In December 2016, TAMUC President Dr. Ray Keck and Athletic Director Tim McMurray announced they were extending Carthel's contract yet again, this time until 2020.

Carthel's Lions were picked to win a fourth straight Lone Star Conference title by the league's coaches and media.

The Lions defeated the Bison 31–17 to earn a spot in the national championship game against West Florida University.

The Lions then defeated William Jewell College 27–17 and Lone Star Conference foe Eastern New Mexico 21–11.

The Lions made personnel changes on offense and rebounded to soundly defeat Lock Haven (Pennsylvania) 68–6, and then avenged their only loss of the previous season by beating Midwestern State 20–19.

After defeating MSU, the Lions lost for the first time in 5 years to A&M System rival Tarleton State University 47–21.

The Lions finished the regular season with a 9–2 record, a # 15 national ranking, LSC runner-ups, and Carthel was named Lone Star Conference Coach of The Year.

Carthel inherited a program that received a post-season ban because the previous regime's failure to meet APR standards.

Thompson, Trae Self, Rayshad Nichols, TKai Lloyd, Myles Heard and many others helped lead SFA to an 8-3 Regular season record and giving the Lumberjacks their first playoff appearance since 2014.

Upon her husband's move to Commerce, she resigned her position at WT and became assistant head coach for the A&M–Commerce volleyball program.