Courtesy: Tuskegee Athletics
TUSKEGEE, Ala. Willie Slater and the Tuskegee University athletics department announces the hire of Lawrence Samuels as its new Tight Ends coach. Samuels replaces Miles Robinson who departed for UCLA.
Most recently, Samuels was the head coach with the Tampa Bay Storm (2014-2016). He was also the offensive coordinator there from 2012-2014. The Mobile, Alabama native also coached wideouts at Central State in 2011 and prior to that, he was the offensive coordinator and receivers coach at Wharton High School during the 2005 and 2006 seasons.
Samuels played his college football at the Livingston University, and was an AFL wide receiver/linebacker from 1994 to 2010. He received both his Bachelors and Masters from the University of West Alabama.
“Lawrence is going to be a huge asset to our team,” said athletics director and head football coach Willie Slater. “He’s a quiet leader but you can certainly tell that he’s been a head coach and he’s starting to make a difference already,” Slater noted.
He made his AFL debut in 1994 with the Tampa Bay Storm racking up 247 receptions through the 2000 season for over 3100 yards (3120 yards) in his first tenure with the Storm. In 2001, Samuels left the Storm and played the season with the New Jersey Gladiators, catching 65 passes (a career high at the time) for 742 yards, just short of his 844-yard career high receiving season he recorded the year before with Tampa Bay.
After a single season in New Jersey, Samuels returned to Tampa, where he finished his playing career. From 2003-2007, Samuels notched 1,000+ yards receiving in 4 of 5 seasons, including back-to-back-to-back 1,100 yard+ seasons in 2005, 2006, and 2007. Was named MVP and Ironman of Arena Bowl XVII.
In 2007, after 5 losses to begin the season, Samuels was again named to the AFL’s All-Ironman Team after leading the Storm to a #3 seed in the playoffs. 100+ catches, 1000+ yards, and 100+ TDs also helped Samuels earn the honor. On June 15, 2008, Samuels became the first receiver in AFL history to record 1,000 career receptions which lead to him being inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame.
In 2002 and 2003, he was an assistant coach and wide receivers coach at Central High School in Brooksville, Florida.
Samuel is married to wife Dr. Kellei Samuels. They have two daughters Landry Samuels (15) and Wilson Samuels (11). His younger brother Chris was a 6-time Pro Bowler for the Washington Redskins.