Sam Shade, a former Alabama football standout and national champion, has been named the new head football coach at Alabama A&M University. The announcement by athletics director Dr. Paul Bryant on From the Hill Podcastpositions Shade as the leader of the Bulldogs in their quest to regain prominence within the FCS and HBCU football landscape.

Shade, who played a critical role in the success of Alabama football during his college career, brings a wealth of experience as both a player and coach. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Shade helped the Crimson Tide win the 1992 national championship before beginning an eight-year NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals and Washington Redskins.

“People love people who played and went to Alabama,” Dr. Bryant. “He will have another fan base that can support some of the efforts we need to support at Alabama A&M.

Since making the transition from player to coach, Shade has built an impressive resume. He was on the staff of Samford University, Georgia State University and the Cleveland Browns. At Pinson Valley High School, he led the program to a state championship, demonstrating his ability to build winning teams. Most recently, Shade transformed the Miles College football program, leading a 1-9 team in 2022 to a 10-3 record and a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) title in 2024. Under his leadership, the Golden Bears rose also in the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Shade’s connections to Alabama football and the state itself played a key role in Alabama A&M’s decision. Dr. Bryant highlighted Shade’s ability to recruit top talent across the region. “Sam has extensive connections throughout Alabama and a proven track record of player identification and development. His background in Alabama football and his work at Miles College show he understands what it takes to build a championship program.”

In addition to his football expertise, Shade’s experience at HBCUs was a key factor in his hiring.

For Sam Shade, taking over the Alabama A&M program represents an opportunity to make a name for himself in the FCS. As the Bulldogs look to get back on track, Shade’s leadership and Alabama football pedigree bring renewed optimism to the program.

“The resources and power in the state of Alabama also convinced us,” Bryant continued. “He has tremendous resources in the state of Alabama, recruiting across the state. And he has connections everywhere. And not just in the state, but across the country.”

Alabama A&M fans and alumni are excited to see what the future holds under the former Alabama football star’s leadership as Shade prepares to bring his championship mentality to Huntsville.

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