Former NFL and University of Alabama star Sam Shade will join Samford football coaching staff Friday, Samford head coach Pat Sullivan announced Thursday.

“We are excited to have someone of Sam’s character join our program,” Sullivan said. “I know his playing experience will be a big asset to our team. We are looking forward to having him join our Samford football family.”

Shade, who has served as volunteer assistant at Briarwood Christian School in recent years, will serve as the cornerbacks coach at Samford.

During his time at Briarwood, Shade coached the defensive backs, helping lead the team to lead the team to a 5A state runner-up finish and a 14-1 overall record in 2007. During his time at the school, he coached current Samford player Will Tumlin and current Furman player Matthew Gordon. His son Justin is a rising senior linebacker at Briarwood.

Since 2004, Shade has been President and CEO of Shade Holdings, LLC, in Birmingham. He has also served as a financial consultant at Wealth Management Partners, LLC, in Montgomery since 2006.

Shade played in the National Football League from 1995 to 2003. He played for the Cincinnati Bengals from 1995 to 1999. Shade led the Bengals in tackles in 1997, and was second in the category in 1998.

Shade played for the Washington Redskins from 1999 to 2003. During his stint in Washington, he played for six different coaches: Norv Turner, Ray Rhodes, Ron Meeks, Marty Shottenheimer, Steve Spurrier and Marvin Lewis.

In April of 2000, Shade won the Redskins’ Unsung Hero Award for on the field commitment and community service accomplishment. In the summers of 2000 to 2005, Shade held youth football camps in Washington and Birmingham. He also worked as a color commentator for the MBC Network from 2003 to 2004.

Shade played college football at the University of Alabama from 1991 to 1994. He was a member of the 1992 national championship team and he was named a permanent captain as a senior in 1994. At the conclusion of his playing career, Shade was drafted by the Bengals in the fourth round of the 1995 NFL Draft.