Jan. 5, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford head football coach Pat Sullivan announced three new additions to his coaching staff on Friday. Sullivan announced the hiring of Chris Brasfield, Pete Roussel and Larry Crowe for his first Samford staff.

Brasfield will coach the Bulldogs' running backs, Roussel will coach the special teams at Samford, and Crowe will be the Bulldogs' director of football operations.

Brasfield comes to Samford from Chicago Hope Academy where he has served as the Student Life Director and Dean of Students since July, 2005. Brasfield was the head football and track and field coach, and also taught the bible to students at the school.

"Chris, first and foremost, is a quality person, and he will relate well to our players," Sullivan said. "He played for me at TCU, and has worked in the National Football League, and we couldn't be more excited to have him join our staff here at Samford."

Prior to his time at CHA, Brasfield served as the head football and track coach at Fort Worth Country Day School from May, 2002 to May, 2005. He also assisted with the strength and conditioning program at the school. The stint was his second at Country Day, as he served on the school's coaching staff from August, 1997 to November, 1998.

From August, 2001 to April, 2002, Brasfield was a college area scout for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He served as an offensive graduate assistant at his alma mater, Texas Christian University, from January, 2001 to July, 2001. At TCU, he was the assistant to the offensive line coach and he was responsible for film breakdown and compiling the scouting reports

Brasfield served as an assistant football coach and head track coach at All Saints Episcopal School in Fort Worth, Texas from June, 2002 to December, 2002. He also served as an intern with the Oakland Raiders during the team's 2000 training camp.

Before working with the Raiders, Brasfield worked as the wide receivers coach at Southwest Texas State in San Marco, Texas from February, 1999 to May, 2000. In addition to coaching the receivers, Brasfield was in charge of scouting reports and practice plans, and he was the team's NFL Scout Liaison and was responsible for the team's Fellowship of Christian Athletes involvement.

Brasfield started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Midwestern State University in Fort Worth, from August to December, 1996.

Brasfield graduated from TCU with a bachelor's degree in 1996, and he earned his master's degree from the school in 2001. He was a starting wide receiver at TCU under Sullivan in 1994 and 1995.

Brasfield is married to the former Sherresa Ward, and the couple has one son, Tyson Aaron Brasfield.

Roussel comes to Samford from the University of Memphis where he served as a graduate assistant, coaching the punt returners and assisting with the wide receivers in 2005 and 2006. At Memphis, Roussel was also responsible for film breakdown.

"Pete has been very impressive, and is as organized a person as I have been around," Sullivan said. "He worked at Ole Miss under David Cutcliffe, and David was very complimentary of him. We are excited to have him join us."

Prior to his time at Memphis, Roussel served on the staff at the University of Mississippi, his alma mater, as a graduate assistant in 2004. At Ole Miss, he worked with the quarterbacks and special teams. He charted offensive calls and was responsible for scouting and opponent film breakdown.

In 2003, Roussel was a defensive assistant at Stanford University. Roussel coached the scout special teams and assisted with the linebackers. He was also responsible for calling the offensive personnel on game day and for preparing the weekly scouting reports.

He began his coaching career as a student assistant at Ole Miss from 2000 to 2002. As a student coach, he assisted with the linebackers and also assisted with on-campus recruiting weekends.

Roussel, a native of New Orleans, La., earned his bachelor's degree from Ole Miss in 2002.

Crowe comes to Samford after working on the staff at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) for the past 12 seasons. Crowe spent the first eight years of his time at UAB as an assistant coach, and the last four seasons as the director of football operations.

"Coach Crowe brings a valuable amount of experience in coaching with him," Sullivan said. "He is a native of Birmingham and is well respected by all of the high school coaches in the area."

Crowe began working at UAB when it competed as a club team in 1989 and 1990, and stayed during its two Division III seasons in 1991 and 1992. He returned to the staff as an assistant coach in 1995 and stayed through the 2006 season.

Crowe worked as an assistant coach working with linebackers for the late Rollie Dotsch with the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League in 1984 and 1985.

Prior to his work with the Stallions, Crowe was an assistant coach at Hueytown High School in 1981 and 1982.

Crowe was an assistant coach at Jacksonville State University from 1976-80. At JSU, Crowe's assignments included working with the running backs and wide receivers. During his time at JSU, the Gamecocks reached the Division II national championship game twice. Also at JSU, Crowe was an assistant baseball coach under Rudy Abbott, helping lead the Gamecocks to two Division II World Series appearances.

Crowe earned his undergraduate degree from UAB in 1994. He is married to the former Joan Harbison. Crowe has two children, a son, Jason and a daughter, Madison.