Former Alabama and NFL defensive back finds new head coaching job at Alabama A&M
Alabama A&M has announced the hiring of Sam Shade as its new head football coach. Shade, a former defensive back for Alabama and in the NFL, has spent the last three years as the head coach at Miles College in Fairfield. Under his leadership, the Golden Bears achieved an 18-15 record, including a 10-3 season […]
Alabama A&M has announced the hiring of Sam Shade as its new head football coach. Shade, a former defensive back for Alabama and in the NFL, has spent the last three years as the head coach at Miles College in Fairfield.
Under his leadership, the Golden Bears achieved an 18-15 record, including a 10-3 season that brought them a conference championship and a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs this past year.
Shade replaces Connell Maynor at Alabama A&M, who was let go earlier this month after finishing with a 40-32 record over seven seasons. The Bulldogs concluded the 2024 season with a 6-6 record.
Alabama A&M Director of Athletics, Dr. Paul A. Bryant, expanded on why Shade is such a good fit.
"Our coach is none other than coach Sam Shade," Dr. Byrant announced. "People talk about the professional coaches, the the coaches that have played professionally, but have never had a coaching background. Not only do we have someone that has played at the highest level, won a national title at the NCAA level, also coached and have coached at several levels. I was so excited to have him on, on campus and be able to speak to him. And then he's been at an HBCU. That is important for us as we look at who we want to lead our program."
A native of Birmingham, Shade was an All-SEC safety at the University of Alabama in the early 1990s and played a key role on the Crimson Tide’s national championship-winning team in 1992. He later had an eight-year career in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Washington Redskins.
With coaching experience as an assistant at Samford (2009-2015) and Georgia State (2017), as well as a stint with the Cleveland Browns in the NFL (2018), Shade was also the head coach at Pinson Valley High School during 2020-2021, where he led the team to a state championship in his first year.
Born in 1973, Shade is known for his toughness and consistency as a player. He played as a safety in the NFL for eight seasons, gaining a reputation for reliability and hard-hitting defense.
His collegiate career at Alabama, particularly during the 1992 national championship, highlighted his physicality and leadership, as well as his ability to perform in pressure situations.
Shade was drafted in the fourth round of the 1995 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, where he quickly became a key player known for his versatility and durability in the defensive backfield. Over five seasons with the Bengals, he garnered respect for his hard-hitting tackles and ability to analyze opposing offenses.
In 2000, he joined the Washington Redskins, further solidifying his legacy as a reliable NFL safety. During his three seasons with the team, he excelled in both run support and pass coverage, providing leadership to the defensive unit.
Throughout his NFL career, Shade registered 520 tackles, 10 interceptions, and multiple pass deflections, showcasing his consistency and influence on the field.
After retiring from playing, Shade moved into coaching and other leadership positions.
