Is a native of Utica, Kansas, and a graduate of Utica High School. He continued his education at Pratt Community College and Fort Hays State University, where he competed in track and field. As a high school athlete, Carlson participated in football, basketball, track, and baseball from fourth through 12th grade, earning four years on the honor roll, serving as class president for four years, and graduating as class salutatorian. He was an Eight-Man All-Star, earned all-league honors in football and basketball, and won six state track medals. His favorite high school memory was helping his team finish second at the state track meet. In college, Carlson specialized in the high jump, triple jump, and long jump. He became the Pratt Community College indoor and outdoor high jump record holder at 6'10", earned honorable mention All-American honors, and later finished fourth at the indoor national championships and earned All-American honors in the high jump at Fort Hays State University. One of his favorite college memories was traveling to Vancouver, British Columbia, for the outdoor national championships.

Carlson began his coaching career in 1995 in Haxtun, Colorado, and has since coached in Haxtun, Lincoln, Kansas, and at Pawnee Heights. Throughout his career, he has coached football, basketball, track, and cross country and currently serves as Head Cross Country and Head Track & Field Coach. Outside of coaching, Carlson works in K-12 physical education, health, and weights, serves as athletic director and driver's education instructor, and enjoys his role as a grandfather. He says the greatest accomplishments of his coaching career are the relationships he has built with former and current athletes, the opportunity to be a positive role model, and the many great people and coaches he has met along the way. Three coaching moments that stand out are helping Doug Colglazier and Braden Colglazier win a state high jump championship—something Carlson never accomplished himself—and leading the 2022 Pawnee Heights boys basketball team to the state tournament.

For Carlson, coaching is about much more than competition. He enjoys being around athletes, getting to know them, and working through the strategy of coaching, but most importantly, he hopes his athletes learn how to face adversity and turn it into something positive. He believes coaches have a tremendous influence on young people's lives and that coaching is one of the most important jobs someone can do.

Away from athletics, Carlson enjoys relaxing at home, spending time with his new grandchild, hunting, and studying the Bible. He is a fan of pizza, the movie Moneyball, Christian rock, '80s rock, and his favorite sports teams are the Las Vegas Raiders, Georgetown Hoyas, Las Vegas A's, New York Knicks and Oklahoma Sooners. His favorite athletes are Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning and Marcus Allen, and his favorite coach is John Thompson.

One unusual memory people may not know about him is that he once got to touch Hulk Hogan's arm as Hogan walked toward the ring at a WWF event in Wichita. One unusual fact about Carlson is that he does not have a gall bladder anymore.

Above all, Carlson wants his athletes to carry the lessons of teamwork, hard work, discipline, and humility with them long after graduation, using those qualities to become positive role models and followers of Christ.