Former Skyline head football coach Reginald Samples was announced as the new head football coach for the Duncanville Panthers yesterday during a press conference in the athletic office.

The position opened up after Coach Jeff Dicus decided to step down after seven years leading the Panthers. The office was vacant for over a month as the district searched for a replacement. They chose Samples who came from a field of  nearly 40 applicants. He  will leave behind a winning legacy after nine years at Skyline High School where his team appeared in 19 playoff games of the past six years.  Skyline also finished this year with a 14-1 record, losing to eventual State Champion Allen in the state semifinals game.

“I really love where I came from,” Samples said. “It was hard to leave, but one of the things that sold me about Duncanville were the people I met as I went through the whole process. I was really given a warm feeling, a feeling that this was the place I needed to be. I’m very excited to be here.”

Samples said he also looks forward to the new field, equipment and amenities, and support of the rest of the community.

“One of the things that people really don’t understand about where I came from is that we had to fight through so many adversities,” Samples said. “We overcame, but I wanted to coach on a level playing field with the teams I was already beating.”

Superintendent of schools Dr. Alfred Ray was along side Samples during the press conference and said he is excited to begin this new chapter in Duncanville football.

“Coach Samples has had a stellar career in Dallas ISD,” Ray said. “He has a lot of great qualities which we deem important. It has to do with his ability to instill hard-workmanship in his players and bring some excitement to our team and community. We like him because he beat Cedar Hill. We like that factor a lot.”

Varsity running back coach Matt Allen said he has high hopes for the new head.

“We’re very excited to have him,” Allen said. “He’s going to make us winners.”

Samples said he will rely on the coaches around him, but he knows that much of the task at hand is his responsibility.

“I’m very open with the coaches,” Samples said. “I’ll listen, but once I say ‘this is the way we’re going to do it’, this is the way we’re going to do it. I don’t think you can be successful unless everybody on board is pulling in the same direction.”

Samples said this plan is one that has worked for him for all of his years which spans over 100 wins as a head football coach and several trips to the 4A,5A and now 6A state championship playoffs including a Class  4A Division II State Championship with Lincoln in 2004.

“The way I do things is based on hard work and expectations,” Samples said. “I rest my hat on that system. You’ll see results.”

Samples will have the task of moving the Panther program forward after two seasons of missing the playoffs and a 3-7 season this year.

“Samples will continue the strong character, discipline and academic achievement that Coach Jeff Dicus brought to the program,” Duncanville Athletic Director Cathy Self-Morgan said in a news release. “Coach Samples will hit the ground running and will be a great fit for Duncanville Independent School District.”

Samples said he believes Duncanville has untapped potential to become a top program.

“I really think fans will see the team will play hard,” Samples said. “I do not like to make predictions, but I will say this, we will work hard and our fans will se our kids are confident and they will play hard.  We won’t back down from anybody.”

Full video of press conference below:

See Dallas Morning News Photo Gallery of Samples Coaching.