A 1993 graduate of Muscle Shoals High School, Cara was an outstanding basketball and softball player from 1989-1993 helping the Lady Trojans to four consecutive Colbert County Basketball Championships under Coach Brenda Mayes. She was All-County and All-Area in both basketball and softball in 1992 and 1993. Additionally she was All-State in basketball in 1993 and All-State in softball in 1992 and 1993. Cara was the Times Daily 4A-6A Player of the Year in Basketball in 1993 and was selected to participate in the Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Game that same year. Following high school she was a walk-on for the women's basketball team at the University of Alabama. She was the first walk-on to earn a scholaship and went on to become a four year letterman for Coach Rick Moody. As a member of Lady Tide she appeared in the 1994 final four and was a three time SEC All-Academic Team Member. Following college she became a high school basketball coach and has coached at Thompson High School for the past 14 years. She has led her teams to numerous Shelby County Championships along with 2 Area Championships, several sub-state appearances and regional appearances. She was head softball coach from 1998-2004 and her 2003 team was 6A state runner-up. Along with being the head Basketball Coach at Thompson, she now also serves as the Athletic Director.