Samford DC Adam Braithwaite to Cincinnati
Samford will now be looking for a new defensive coordinator in back-to-back offseasons as defensive coordinator/safeties coach Adam Braithwaite is expected to be the new safeties coach at Cincinnati. This move was first reported by Matt Zenitz and Chad Brendel of CBS Sports and 247 Sports.
Last offseason, then Samford defensive coordinator Chris Boone was hired away to be the outside linebackers coach for Troy.
Braithwaite came to Homewood from Tennessee Tech last offseason as the Golden Eagles led the Big South-OVC in total defense in 2023. In 2024, Samford finished 44th in total defense which was third best in the Southern Conference. Braithwaite’s attacking defensive scheme helped Samford finish in the top 15 in the country in team sacks with 34.
The defense finished fourth in the entire country in sacks per game with 3.09. Samford was 25th in the country in 3rd down defense and tied for ninth in first down defense. The Bulldogs also finished 12th in the country in rush defense allowing 110.2 yards per game. They ranked fifth in the country in allowing just 2.89 yards a carry.
Samford will also have to replace All-American linebacker Noah Martin along with other contributors like defensive linemen Josh Mathiasen and Makhi Gilbert. The Bulldogs, however, have officially signed five new transfers on the defensive side of the ball and will continue to add throughout the transfer portal cycle.
Head coach Chris Hatcher will now be tasked to find his fifth defensive coordinator heading into his 11th season.
Check out our football portal tracker which keeps track of new commitments and signees as the action happens.
