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December 22, 2010
Sullivan Announces Staff Changes
Samford head football coach Pat Sullivan announced the hiring of four new staff members Dec. 16.
Rhett Lashlee has been named the team's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Antonio Carter will serve as the team's outside receivers coach, Travis Trickett will coach the tight ends and slot receivers, while Jay Chapman will serve as the program's director of football operations.
"We are excited to have our staff complete now," Sullivan said. "We look forward to getting our team back after the holidays and getting started. We were disappointed in our year this year and we have some work to do, starting with recruiting and then spring practice. We can't wait to get started for next year."
Lashlee comes to Samford after spending the last two years as an offensive graduate assistant at Auburn. He assisted with all aspects of the offense at Auburn for the last two seasons, including the 2010 season when he helped the Tigers win the Southeastern Conference championship and earn a spot in the BCS National Championship game.
Prior to working at Auburn, Lashlee also spent three seasons working for current Tiger offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn. Lashlee worked under Malzahn at Arkansas in 2006 and at Springdale High School in Arkansas in 2004 and 2005.
Lashlee also served as the market director for VYPE Magazine in Northwest Arkansas in 2007 and 2008. Lashlee earned his bachelor's degree in marketing and business management from Arkansas in 2006.
"I wanted to go in the direction of a fast-paced offense," Sullivan said. "With Rhett's background of working with Coach Malzahn and with the type of offense they run, I thought this was a good fit. He has a tremendous knowledge of this offense, and he is a fine, Christian person. He and his wife recently had twin boys and we are excited to welcome them to our Samford family."
Carter, in 2010, served as co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach at Amos P. Godby High School and as the head girls' basketball coach at Cobb Middle School, both in his hometown of Tallahassee, Fla. He spent the 2009 season as the wide receivers coach at Eastern Michigan. In 2008, Carter coached receivers and was the passing game coordinator at Appalachian State, helping lead the Mountaineers to a Southern Conference championship and an NCAA FCS playoff bid.
