Dec. 16, 2010

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford head football coach Pat Sullivan announced the hiring of four new staff members on Thursday.

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.

Carter served as a graduate assistant on Nick Saban's staff at his alma mater, the University of Alabama, in 2007, working with the wide receivers. Carter also worked as a graduate assistant at the University of Texas-El Paso (UTEP) in 2005 and 2006. The 2005 UTEP team reached the GMAC Bowl.

Carter, who played football at Alabama from 2000-04, earned his bachelor's degree in human environmental sciences from Alabama in 2004.

"Antonio is a young man we are excited to have to coach our outside receivers," Sullivan said. "Antonio brings a wealth of energy to our team. He came highly recommended to us by Coach Saban at Alabama, as well as Jerry Moore, who he worked for at Appalachian State. He is a tremendous person. He and Sam Shade on our staff have a great relationship and I think he will be a tremendous addition to our program."

Trickett comes to Samford after working as a graduate assistant at Florida State since May of 2008, working on the staffs of both Bobby Bowden and Jimbo Fisher. In 2007, Trickett worked as an offensive graduate assistant on Saban's staff at Alabama.

Trickett, the son of FSU offensive line coach Rick Trickett, began his coaching career as a student assistant at West Virginia University, working under head coach Rich Rodriguez.

Trickett graduated from West Virginia in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in business administration and marketing. He also earned a master's degree from Florida State in sports administration in 2009.

"Travis will coach our tight ends and slot receivers, as well as help with recruiting," Sullivan said. "His enthusiasm, knowledge and the quality of person he is was evident when we met with him. Coach Bowden, Coach Fisher, Coach Saban and every coach he has worked for called on his behalf and they all gave glowing remarks about the kind of person and coach he is."

Chapman has worked at the University of Alabama at Birmingham since 2008 as the director of player development for the Blazers. He also served as the associate director of recruiting for UAB for the last two years.

In 2007, Chapman served as coordinator of football operations for Team Alabama in the All-American Football League. Chapman was president of Thermacraft Insulation from 1997 to 2007.

Chapman is a 1992 graduate of Samford with a bachelor's degree in general studies. He also holds a bachelor's degree from Auburn in animal and dairy science, which he earned in 1995. Chapman earned a master's in public and private management from Birmingham-Southern in 2003.

"I've known Jay since he was a student at Auburn when he helped us with some recruiting there when I was coaching back in the mid to late eighties," Sullivan said. "He's a Samford graduate and a fine young man. I think he will be a wonderful addition to our staff, bringing a lot of energy."