Jan. 11, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford has hired Bill Clay as an assistant football coach, head coach Pat Sullivan announced on Friday.

"We are excited to have Bill Clay join our staff," Sullivan said. "He is one of the most respected coaches in the country. He will be a tremendous addition to our football program, and we can't wait until he gets here."

Clay will serve as an assistant on the defense, Sullivan added.

Clay comes to Samford with a tremendous amount of coaching experience. He spent the last two seasons coaching safeties at Texas A&M. Prior to his time at Texas A&M, he spent the 2005 season coaching inside linebackers at Louisiana Tech.

Clay has served as the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State (2001-04), UAB (1997-2000), UTEP (1996), Mississippi State (1991-95), Temple (1988), SMU (1981-86) and Southern Mississippi (1980-81).

Clay worked at Mississippi State as an assistant coach from 1989-90 prior to being named defensive coordinator in 1991. He was also an assistant coach at Southern Mississippi from 1976-79 before his promotion to defensive coordinator in 1980.

From 1973-74 Clay served as an assistant coach at South Carolina. He worked as an assistant coach at Virginia Tech in 1972 and Virginia from 1969-71.

Clay began his coaching career at Ganby High School in Norfolk, Va., from 1965-68.

In his career, Clay has coached in 12 bowl games. He coached in the 1980 Independence Bowl, 1981 Tangerine Bowl, 1982 Cotton Bowl, 1983 Sun Bowl, 1984 Aloha Bowl, 1991 Liberty Bowl, 1993 Peach Bowl, 1994 Peach Bowl, 2002 Houston Bowl, 2003 Cotton Bowl, 2004 Alamo Bowl and 2006 Holiday Bowl.

Clay, a native of Marianna, Ark., is a 1963 graduate of the University of Arkansas. He and his wife Marimarlene have four children, Christiana Long, Kim Bennett, Amanda Clay and Kelly Atwood.