NFL
By: Brock Vierra
Throughout this interview series, I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with knowledgeable insiders into football programs. People whose professional lives are dedicated to the game but today, I spoke with someone whose entire life has been defined by football. A star athlete in the Hawaii high school scene, an inspiring story from his collegiate years, and now he has embarked on a career in coaching.
I first interviewed Samson Anguay two years ago when he was coaching at Pearl City High School. Since then, he took an entry-level coaching role at the University of Hawaii before achieving his first full-time coaching role at Southern Oregon University. Serving as wide receivers coach, Anguay provided me insight into the world of coaching, recruiting, and the lifestyle that is associated with the profession.
Let’s get this interview underway
Vierra: Hello Samson or should I say, Coach Anguay. Last time we spoke, you were coaching at the high school level. What have you been up to since?
Anguay: Currently at Southern Oregon University as the WRs Coach, just had my second child Zion who is healthy and just another big blessing!
Vierra: Congratulations! Let’s talk about coaching. For the young men out there looking for an opportunity in coaching, what do they need to do to put themselves in a prime position to get one?
Anguay: Don’t be afraid of risks, you’re going to have to start somewhere. I did a volunteer gig at the University of Hawaii to learn and grow in the business, it’s not just X’s and O’s, it is learning about the business side as well.
Vierra: You spent time in 2022 getting your toes wet as a member of Timmy Chang’s staff at your alma mater, the University of Hawaii. Could you speak on your experience, what you took away, and what tools/ lessons learned leaned that you have used in your current role?
Anguay: It was an awesome experience. The staff taught me a lot about just the day-to-day grind, and how important it is to be present at the moment because you never know what’s going to happen next in your career, what I learned from them helped me out so much here at SOU because it helped me add more value to just to myself but to the program as best as I could.
Vierra: You are now the WR coach at Southern Oregon University. Talk about the program and what they have to offer a recruit.
Anguay: This program is built on togetherness and family, I consider this a small town in Hawaii, The people are amazing and the coaches are amazing. You will get not just get a college degree but they will also play competitive football here at the NAIA level! Our goal is to have athletes walk away with a degree they’re proud of and a national championship
Vierra: Going 6-4 this year, Southern Oregon achieved a winning season after three straight losing campaigns. What went into making it happen?
Anguay: The formula Coach Berk Brown has brought in. Having these young men believe in the WE! Coming together as a family and facing adversity head-on, took time and it was a blessing to see Coach Brown’s vision come to life to be a part of that was very special!!
Vierra: A member of Berk Brown’s inaugural staff, could you detail the challenges that come with not only being a first-time position coach at the collegiate level but also dealing with the growing pains that come with being a part of a new staff.
We got to learn a lot about each other. I consider all of these coaches family, shoot damn near my blood. Coach Brown made me one promise, to show me how special this place is and he kept more than his promise, he over exceeded it. How accepting SOU is of not just me but my wife and kids, how we are building a 40+ year relationship, not just a 4-5 year deal. Just the experience here, I am forever grateful and these coaches are forever family to me and my ohana.
Vierra: A big win to end Southern Oregon’s campaign, you’re team beat the fifth-ranked College of Idaho 31-16, avenging an earlier defeat. Talk about the process and preparation behind the win and what was the aftermath.
But we were a different team as well, we started to roll and come together as a family, not just the staff but the players, and knew we had something bigger to play for, especially being senior night for our 17 young men who sacrificed so much for this program for the past 4 years. After the win, it was tears of joy and, a lot of celebrating and it showed a lot of people that Southern Oregon Football is on to something. Having its first Defensive Player of the Year in SOU history and finishing as an offense with a 97% Red Zone Rate with an all-conference leading rusher, to taking every category as a defense was huge for us and forever a great big smile of accomplishment.
Vierra: Let’s talk about recruiting. As a position coach, what do you look for in a recruit?
Anguay: It plays a huge part in recruiting, How are you when you are not on a field tells me a lot about someone. Are you respected on campus? Do you treat others how you would like to be treated? Are you being a great person in your community? Things like that will help separate a lot of missing answers that we need to find out because we want guys who fit us and how we do things here at SOU.
Vierra: What do you emphasize in recruiting?
Anguay: Location. Community. Academics. Winning. Culture. Family.
Vierra: Last question. What’s in store for you and the Raiders in 2024?
