ONE MORE SHOT


Aggressive, intense, competitive. They are terms that have become coach-speak. But while they are a part of Byron Samuels’ vocabulary, such words don’t begin to describe the man. More apt terms might be deep, worldly and complex. Although at first glance you might not surmise that about the 40-year old Radford head coach who nearly walked away from the game he loves.

In April of 2001, Samuels found himself unemployed after helping head coach Jerry Green lead the University of Tennessee to four straight NCAA tournament appearances. Expectations and controversy surrounded the decision to let Green go and it appeared that Samuels would be just another assistant who had run out of options.

“I was very close to walking away,” says Samuels. “I thought it was perhaps time to return to school to pursue my PHD. Like so many other coaches, I have always considered myself to be a teacher, first and foremost and I had pretty much decided that my future was going to be in classroom.”

The next few months would be prove to be the toughest for a teacher at the crossroads of his coaching career.

“It was tough having to leave Tennessee,” says Samuels. “We had four very good years there, but I have always tried to remain on an even keel. When the basketball day is over I go home and relax with some music. No TV, just the music. It helps to keep the saw sharp.”

Samuels likes to sharpen the blade with a variety of sounds from his vast CD collection, but Jazz seems to provide the best pick-me-up.

“I envy guys like Joe Sample, Stevie Wonder, Grover Washington, Ronnie and Herbert Laws and I could go on and on,” says Samuels. I would say I have a very diverse taste in music but it’s Jazz that strikes the best note.”

Music soothes the soul and for Samuels there would be a lot of soul searching in the summer of 2001.

Following successful stints at Western Carolina, Tulsa, UNC-Wilmington, Radford and Washington State, Samuels was hired at Hampton University where he was given the task of leading the program into the ranks of division I basketball.

In just two seasons, the Pirates set fourteen team and individual records and Samuels was credited with two No. 1 recruiting classes in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. One of those first recruits would eventually lead Hampton to an NCAA tourney win over Iowa State.

“The first time I saw Tarvis Williams was in the summer of ’95 at Prep Stars in Charlotte (North Carolina),” says Samuels. “Immediately I thought he was a difference maker. I changed my entire pre-planned schedule to follow Tarvis.”

Samuels basically re-located to Jacksonville, North Carolina to keep tabs on the prized 7-footer who was not highly touted by most. Not surprisingly, it came down to Hampton and perennial MEAC power Coppin State. Samuels’ persistence would help swing the balance of power in the MEAC, as the Pirates would go onto win back-to-back MEAC tournament titles (2001, 2002).

While Samuels was not on board to captain the Pirates to success, he was satisfied that he left the program in good standing.

“Steve (Merfeld) and Bobby (Collins) deserve all the credit for taking that program to the next level,” says Samuels. “I wanted to lead the program into division I and improve upon it was before I got there. I did that. I never planned to leave Hampton, but an opportunity presented itself.”

That opportunity was Knoxville, TN with former college coach Jerry Green. Samuels played for Green at UNC-Asheville (1983-86). The team MVP in ’86, Samuels was a member of the Big South’s first-ever All-Tournament team and UNCA’s Male Athlete of the Year. They were four special years for Samuels so the opportunity to reunite with Green was to enticing to pass on.

Not only did the Green-Samuels tandem produce four straight NCAA berths, it also produced a school-record 26 wins, a second straight Southeastern Conference Eastern Division crown and a berth in the Sweet Sixteen in 2000. But just twelve months later, the run was over.

“I spent the next four months contemplating what my next move would be,” says Samuels. “I sought a lot of advice from those I trusted and spent rest of the summer with my children. I have always said that coaching is what I do, but it’s not who I am.”

Samuels almost exchanged his clipboard for a hat, which he then intended to throw into the political ring. But politics would be put on hold after a visit to an old friend and a little advice from his wife, Beverlyn.

Samuels spent time working Radford’s summer camp with Ron Bradley who he had worked for during the 1991-92 season. Still, Samuels was pretty intent on pursuing a different path.

“After giving it all a lot of thought, my wife convinced me to stay in coaching with two sentences,” Samuels said. “She said, ‘You have put in fifteen good years. Give it one more shot.’”

Women always give the best advice!

And just twelve months after the fall out at Tennessee, Samuels was elevated from assistant to head coach at Radford.

The Highlanders came within one game of NCAA tournament berth, falling to his Alma Matter Asheville in the Big South tournament championship game. In his encore performance, Radford finished 12-16, but the Highlanders lost five games by two points or less and four more defeats came by five or less.

While the standings may tell one story, a close observer could see that Radford was a team on the rise.

Political aspirations and teaching in the classroom will have to wait. For now, Samuels will teach on the court and deal with the politics of coaching.