Brian Carpenter - Head Mascot Coach - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Brian Carpenter

Title:
Head Mascot Coach
Email:

Brian Carpenter has been leading the University of Kansas mascot program as head coach since February 2020, after initially joining as an assistant coach in April 2019. He is responsible for training the mascot team in the character and traditions of Big and Baby Jay, ensuring their academic and physical fitness with twice-weekly 5:30 am workouts. Carpenter also manages the mascots' schedules for games and events, along with his assistant coaches, and oversees the annual tryouts in April for the next academic year. Aspiring mascots can contact him at bcarpenter@ku.edu or for details go to Mascot Tryouts. For those looking to book a mascot appearance can visit Mascot Appearance Request Form.

Carpenter's mascot journey began back in his high school years at Blue Valley Northwest, serving as the first mascot for the new high school, and continued at the University of Kansas, where he was Big Jay and earned a Communications Studies degree. His mascot experience includes serving as the traveling mascots such as the Schnucks Soldier, the Wonder Bread Slice of Bread, and the backup Sluggerrr for the Kansas City Royals.

In his professional life, Carpenter is the Director of Sales at ClickSafety in Leawood, Kansas, specializing in online safety training since 2017. He has been an active member of the Kansas City Irish Fest staff, serving on its board from 2019 to 2024 and as President in 2022. Carpenter even contributed to the creation of their mascot, Bó, which is Irish for cow.

At home in Overland Park, Kansas, Brian enjoys family life with his wife, Sally, their children, Patrick and Lucy, and their lively pets. The Carpenter household is never quiet and hardly ever clean, but it is filled with a lot of great memories. An enthusiastic golfer, KU supporter, and Kansas City sports fan, Brian is dedicated to his team's success, celebrating their accomplishments both in mascot attire and in their personal lives.