Ross Newton enters his first season as defensive line coach at Samford. He comes to Samford after spending the last season as a graduate assistant coach for defense at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Newton is no stranger to the Samford football program. He was a member of the Samford football team from 2000 to 2003. As a Bulldog, he registered 143 tackles and eight sacks. He was selected a team captain in his senior year in 2003. As a senior, Newton also won the Kenny Morgan Leadership Award.

"I am excited about the opportunity to come back to Samford," Newton said. "I played here and had a great career here, and it is a great opportunity to come back here as a coach."

Newton, a native of Homewood, Ala., played high school football for his father, Bob Newton, at Homewood High School.

Newton graduated from Samford in 2004 with a B.A. in history with a minor in political science. He is scheduled to receive his master's degree in education from UAB this summer.