Duncanville head coach Reginald Samples recently spoke to Dallas Morning News in regards to his and his program’s reprimanding from UIL.
Samples and the Duncanville football program were placed on a one-year probation after a rule violation in the 2019 season.
“I’ve got to bite the bullet,” Samples told Dallas Morning News. “I made a mistake, I owned up to it and I have to move forward.”
According to the UIL Constitution, if the head coach and assistant high school coaches are not a full-time employee of the school board of the school in which the team is representing then that school is not eligible for UIL Competition.
Samples allowed this to happen violating Section 1202(a)(1) of the UIL Constitution. “He’s just a volunteer,” Samples commented “and he ended up giving instructions… that you can’t do.”
In Samples’ decorated 30-year career, this is his first UIL rule violation. The USA Today;s 2019 National Coach of the Year has appeared in three state title games while making a 286-83 record between Lincoln, Skyline, and Duncanville programs. Under Samples, Duncanville has accumulated a 51-6 record over the last four years.
“This is the first violation I’ve had… and I can’t make an excuse.” Samples said. Samples will be suspended for the first game of the 2020 season. Duncanville’s 2020 football schedule is still in the process of being finalized, so the Week 1 opponent has not been revealed.
Duncanville ISD has declined in commenting on the suspension and probation.
