Since being named Radford University’s fifth head men’s basketball coach in April of 2002, Byron Samuels has made his impact felt on the Highlander program.

Byron Samuels was named Radford University named Byron Samuels the institution’s fifth head basketball coach in April of 2002.

Taking over a program that had had just two losing seasons in the previous 12 years, expectation were high for Samuels, and he didn’t disappoint. The team struggled in the early going, winning just two non-Conference games, but once the Highlanders began playing League foes, the wins started to add up. His crowning achievement in his first season though was leading RU to its fourth appearance in the Big South championship finals in the last six years. The Highlanders upset third-seeded Charleston Southern on its home floor, 65-62 and then upset second-seeded Liberty on its home floor three days later, 55-52. UNC Asheville would spoil the miracle run in the finals with an 85-71 win over RU. Samuels impact had been felt by all Radford basketball fans, not bad for a first-year coach with a very young team.

That team also felt the impact of Samuels’ coaching. Under his tutelage, freshman Whit Holcomb-Faye earned Big South Freshman of the Year honors and Olumuyiwa Popoola earned All-Academic honors.

Samuels was elevated from Highlander assistant to head coach on April 8, 2002 after spending the 2001-02 season as and assistant under former RU coach Dr. Ron Bradley. It was his second such stint as a Radford assistant after serving on Bradley’s first staff during the 1991-92 season.

Samuels returned to RU after spending the previous four seasons on Jerry Green’s staff at the University of Tennessee. Samuels was very familiar with Green’s system, having played for him at UNC Asheville (1983-1986), Samuels and the Vols advanced to the NCAA Tournament in each of his four seasons as an assistant. The 1999-2000 season highlighted Samuels’ four-year tenure at UT. The season marked one of the most successful in school history with the Vols winning a school record 26 games and advancing to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. In the process, UT won a share of its eighth SEC title and its second straight SEC Eastern Division crown. In his final season in Knoxville, the Vols spent the entire season ranked in the top 25, reaching as high as No. 5, and finished the season ranked 11th in the final Associated Press poll.

Prior to joining the UT staff, Samuels spent two-years as head coach at Hampton University (1995-97) where, at age 30, he was one of the nation’s youngest head coaches when he led the Pirates into Division I status. In two seasons, his teams broke 14 team and individual records. His two recruiting classes were each rated No. 1 in the MEAC.

Samuels’ career has seen him associated with programs that have experienced dramatic turnarounds at the Division I level. Prior to taking the Hampton post, Samuels was an assistant coach at Washington State. While at WSU, Samuels helped guide the Cougars to an 18-12 mark and the quarterfinals of the National Invitational Tournament.

Before his appointment at Washington State, Samuels served two seasons as an assistant coach at UNC Wilmington, where he helped the Seahawks post back-to-back 17-11 and 18-10 marks as one of the top teams in the Colonial Athletic Association. He was also on the UNC Wilmington staff during the 1990-91 campaign.

In between stints at UNCW, Samuels spent a season at RU in 1991-92 and served as an assistant coach at Tulsa during the 1989-90 season. During the season at Tulsa, the Golden Hurricanes posted a 17-13 mark and a berth in the NIT. As a part of that 1991-92 RU staff, Samuels helped lead the Highlanders to a 20-9 mark and the school’s first regular season Big South Conference title.

A 1986 graduate of UNC Asheville, Samuels earned a Bachelor of Science degree, while earning team MVP honors. He was a member of the Big South’s first-ever All-Tournament team in 1986. He was student leader of the year in 1985 and was UNCAs 1986 Male Athlete of the Year.

Samuels earned a master’s degree in education from Western Carolina University in 1990. Samuels played professional basketball in Ireland with the Kilkenny Club in 1988.

The Winston-Salem, N.C., native is married to the former Beverlyn Wright. They have a daughter, Eryn, and a son, Evan.


BYRON SAMUELS PROFILE

PERSONAL:
Born: May 3, 1964
Wife: Beverlyn W. Samuels
Children: Eyrn Elizabeth (9), Evan Ravon (3)

EDUCATION:
M.A., Education, Western Carolina University, 1990
B.S., Personnel Management, UNC Asheville, 1986

COACHING EXPERIENCE:
Assistant Coach, Radford University, 2001-2002
Assistant Coach, University of Tennessee-Knoxville, 1997-2001
Head Coach, Hampton University, 1995-1997
Assistant Coach, Washington State University, 1994-1995
Assistant Coach, UNC Wilmington, 1992-1994
Assistant Coach, Radford University, 1991-1992
Assistant Coach, UNC Wilmington, 1990-1991
Graduate Assistant Coach, University of Tulsa, 1989-1990
Graduate Assistant Coach, Western Carolina University, 1988-1989

PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
College - UNC Asheville, 1982-1986
Professional - Kilkenny Club (Ireland), 1988