Carroll attended Redwood High School in nearby Larkspur, where he was a three-sport standout in football, basketball and baseball, earning the school's Athlete of the Year award as a senior in 1969. After high school, he attended junior college at the nearby College of Marin, where he played football for two years (lettering in his second year). Transfered to the University of the Pacific, played free safety for two years, earning All-Pacific Coast Athletic Conference honors both years (1971-72) and earning his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1973.

Coaching style: Carroll draws coaching inspiration from the 1974 book The Inner Game of Tennis, by tennis coach W. Timothy Gallwey, ; he summarizes the philosophy he took from the book as "all about clearing the clutter in the interactions between your conscious and subconscious mind" enabled "Through superior practice and a clear approach. Focus, clarity and belief in yourself are what allows you to express your ability without discursive thoughts and concerns."

Carroll is known for his high-energy and often pleasant demeanor when coaching. In explaining his enthusiasm, Carroll has stated "I always think something good's just about to happen."

Philanthropy In April 2003, after hearing about murders in the Los Angeles area, Carroll co-founded A Better LA, a charity devoted to reducing violence in targeted urban areas of Los Angeles. Carroll's foundation now supports several violence prevention nonprofit groups. Twice a month, Carroll goes with community activists and former gang members into some of LA's most crime-plagued neighborhoods, such as the Jordan Downs project, at night in order to talk and listen to residents, help youth find part-time jobs and encourage a stop to violence.