Ra’Shaad Samples, the Oregon Ducks assistant head coach and running backs coach, has been charged with a driving incident that occurred in mid-April. According to reports, Samples is charged with DUII and reckless driving after he collided with another car. 

“Just before 2 a.m. on April 12…Ra’Shaad Samples, 31, allegedly backed his 2026 Ford F-150 into a parked car near the intersection of Willamette and West Broadway streets in Eugene,” Ryan Clarke of OregonLive reported.

The Oregonian also detailed the authorities’ arrivals and initial assessment of Samples at the scene in their June 1 report.

“When an officer from the Eugene Police Department arrived on the scene minutes later, the responding officer concluded that Samples was under the influence of alcohol, based on his visible condition and statements,” the report said, citing the DMV records.

According to the DMV reports, no sobriety test was conducted on Samples. 

“We take these matters seriously, and we have handled internally,” an Oregon athletics spokesperson told The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Samples is scheduled to appear in court on July 20 at 1 p.m. In Oregon, DUII and reckless driving are both Class A misdemeanors, classified as the most serious level of misdemeanor offense. These carry a maximum sentence of up to 364 days, per the Daily Emerald.

Samples’ attorney, Bryan Boender, has not made any comments yet.

Both cars, Samples’ truck and the Dodge Ram, which belongs to Steven James of Eugene, were damaged. It is not confirmed whether anyone was seated in the other car at the time of the crash. 

Ra’Shaad Samples’ Coaching Career

A former wide receiver at Oklahoma State and Houston, Samples joined the Oregon Ducks in 2024. He previously served as Arizona State’s passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach. 

Samples also had a brief stint in the NFL when he worked as the Los Angeles Rams’ running backs coach in 2022. At age 27, he was the youngest-ever position coach in NFL history. His time with the Rams lasted for just a year.

He led a Big Ten championship-winning offense in 2024 behind Jordan James, who became an eventual fifth-round NFL Draft pick. He also mentored freshman running backs Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr. alongside veteran Noah Whittington during Oregon’s 2025 College Football Playoff semifinal run. 

He is entering his third season in Eugene under head coach Dan Lanning.

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore