Sam Shade facts for kids
| Alabama A&M Bulldogs | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Head coach | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | June 14, 1973 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 205 lb (93 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Birmingham (AL) Wenonah | ||||||||||||
| College: | Alabama | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1995 / Round: 4 / Pick: 102 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| As coach: | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Head coaching record | |||||||||||||
| Regular season: | 17–14 (.548) | ||||||||||||
| Postseason: | 1–1 (.500) | ||||||||||||
| Career: | 18–15 (.545) | ||||||||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Samuel Richard Shade (born June 14, 1973) is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach for Alabama A&M University, a position he has held since 2025. Sam played eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL) from 1995 to 2002. He played as a safety for the Cincinnati Bengals and the Washington Redskins. Shade played college football at the University of Alabama. He was chosen in the fourth round of the 1995 NFL draft.
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Playing Career Highlights
Sam Shade was a strong player in the NFL. He played as a safety, which is a defensive position. He started his professional career with the Cincinnati Bengals in 1995. He played for them until 1998.
Time with the Washington Redskins
From 1999 to 2002, Sam played for the Washington Redskins. In 1999, he had his best year for tackles, with 115. He also had 8.5 sacks and 10 interceptions during his NFL career. Sam was known for his ability to recover fumbles, getting 9 of them. He even scored one defensive touchdown.
Coaching Career Journey
After his playing career, Sam Shade became a football coach. He has coached at different levels, from high school to college and even in the NFL.
Coaching at Samford University
From 2009 to 2015, Sam coached at Samford University. He was the special teams coordinator and helped with the defensive passing game. He worked with players who later joined the NFL. These players included Corey White, Jaquiski Tartt, and James Bradberry.
Joining Georgia State
On December 15, 2016, Sam Shade became the cornerbacks coach at Georgia State University. He helped train the defensive players who cover wide receivers.
Time with the Cleveland Browns
In 2018, Sam joined the Cleveland Browns in the NFL. He worked as an assistant special teams coach. This role involved helping with plays like kickoffs and punts.
Leading Pinson Valley High School
In February 2020, Sam Shade became the head coach at Pinson Valley High School in Alabama. In his first year, he led the team to a great 12–2 season. They even won the state championship!
Coaching at Miles College
On January 26, 2022, Sam Shade was named the head football coach at Miles College. He coached the Miles Golden Bears for three seasons. During his time there, the team improved a lot. In 2024, they had a fantastic 10–3 record and won their conference championship.
Becoming Head Coach at Alabama A&M
On December 29, 2024, Alabama A&M University hired Sam Shade. He became the 22nd head coach in the school's football history. He will start this new role in 2025.
