BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - New Samford men's basketball coach Lennie Acuff was introduced to the Bulldog community at the Ralph W. Beeson University Center earlier today. 

The full introductory press conference can be seen in the link below.

Notable quotes from today's press conference:

Samford Director of Athletics Martin Newton, "We talked about three criteria for this job. We wanted someone who embraced and understood the Christian mission of this university. Lennie Acuff is a man of faith, a man of high character, and a man of ethics and integrity. We wanted someone who can do the job and has shown a long time of success. Coach Acuff has over 660 wins as a college basketball coach, 12 conference championships, numerous trips to the NCAA Tournament, and numerous Coach of the Year awards. Lennie Acuff is a winner. Finally, we wanted somebody who wanted this job. It took us about a minute into our conversation to realize he wanted this job, in fact, he said this is his dream job. Coach Acuff embraces family and coach we are so grateful to have you as part of the Bulldog family."

Samford University President Dr. Beck Taylor, "Samford University is a place that pursues excellence in all that we do. Incredible academic programs that prepare our students for meaningful lives of service across our ten academic schools, faculty and staff who are the best in their fields and are drawn to Samford's Christ-centered educational mission, and coach we have the best students in the country. Nowhere is Samford's commitment to excellence more on display than in its athletic program, we love our Bulldogs, and we know that athletics plays a central role in exposing people around the world to all of the wonderful things happening here at Samford."

"Today we celebrate the next exciting chapter for our storied men's basketball program. Coach Acuff and your wife Kelly, we welcome you to the Samford family and we are excited about your leadership, enthusiasm for all that we have built and are building here at Samford, and for the ways that you will positively impact our campus. What we want you to know today is that we are behind you 110 percent and I promise you we will pack the Pete to cheer you on to victory in the years to come."

Head basketball coach Lennie Acuff, "I am grateful, humble and incredibly blessed to be here. God has been so good to me and has blessed my family and I am grateful for that and grateful to be at Samford. I hadn't had the honor of meeting Dr. Taylor prior to this experience and to say I was impressed when I did would be an understatement. Everyone, to a person, I talk to has been so complementary, thank you so much for entrusting me with the opportunity to be here. I have known Martin Newton for many years and to see what has happened with Samford athletics and throughout the campus under his leadership is no accident. I am really thankful to him for believing in me and our family and we are extremely excited to be here."

"Winning doesn't negotiate, culture doesn't negotiate, you have to earn it, you have to live it, and you have to be about it every day. There is no secret to this stuff, you better get yourself some good players. You are not going to outcoach guys but I do think you can outculture guys. We want high-character kids that fit at Samford, it is all about fit. We have a long-term vision but we have to have short-term goals. Every day we have to get a little bit better and a little bit better. I want to have kids who want to be here, play in the right way, and are easy for you to cheer for. That is what I want this to be about."



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