Oregon Coach Faces Reckless Driving Charges

Oregon football assistant coach Ra'Shaad Samples spoke publicly for the first time on August 12 regarding his DUII and reckless driving charges from April. Samples expressed regret over decisions made in April, stating he wishes he could retract them. He confirmed that Coach Dan Lanning addressed the situation in April and emphasized his continued accountability.

Samples also highlighted the importance of rebuilding trust with his players, colleagues, and the university community. Coach Lanning addressed the charges on August 5, confirming that the program became aware of the incident in April and handled disciplinary actions internally, as is their standard practice for various matters.

The university's athletics department issued a statement acknowledging the seriousness of the matters and confirming that appropriate action was taken. The specifics of Samples' disciplinary measures were not disclosed by either Samples or Lanning.

Ra'Shaad Samples, 31, joined Oregon's coaching staff in April 2024 as assistant head coach and running backs coach. He previously served as the youngest position coach in NFL history with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022.