Yesterday, FAMU Athletic Director Kellen Winslow named collegiate coaching veteran Byron Samuels its new men’s head basketball coach. Samuels compiled a 75-123 won/loss record during his 7 years as a head coach.
Samuels comes to FAMU from the University of Georgia, where
he served as the basketball operations coordinator since June of 2013.
While at Georgia, Samuels was responsible for oversight of the
players' day-to-day schedules and their academic performance, assisting with
the program's on-campus recruiting efforts, summer camps and community
outreach.
A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., Samuels has built an
extensive coaching resume spanning 11 schools in 26 years. His career
experiences include three head coaching posts, two at four-year schools, and
one in the junior college ranks.
Samuels' first head coaching job came at Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference member Hampton University. During his two-year stint (1995-97), he led the Pirates to a 17-36 overall record on the hardwood and with their transition from NCAA Division II to Division I status.
His teams broke 14 team and individual records and both of
his recruiting classes were ranked No. 1 in the MEAC.
While serving as head coach at Radford University, he compiled a 58-87 record from
2002-07 after serving one season there as an assistant coach. His tenure with
the Highlanders included an appearance in the league's tournament championship
game, as well as several player and team accolades, both on the court and in
the classroom.