| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1938-03-19) March 19, 1938 |
| Playing career | |
| 1956–1959 | Buffalo |
| 1960 | Buffalo Bills* |
| Position | Linebacker |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1965–1967 | Lehigh (DL) |
| 1968 | Buffalo (DL) |
| 1969–1972 | Northern Illinois (DC/RC) |
| 1973–1976 | Lehigh (DC/RC) |
| 1977–1984 | Alfred |
| 1985–1989 | Toronto Argonauts (DL) |
| 1990–1991 | Buffalo |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| c. 1960s | Silver Creek HS (NY) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 54–42–2 |
| Tournaments | 0–1 (NCAA D-III playoffs) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 ICAC (1981) | |
Sam Sanders (born March 19, 1938) is an American former football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Alfred University from 1977 to 19841 and at the University at Buffalo from 1990 to 1991,2 compiling a career college football record of 54–42–2.
Sanders played college football for Buffalo as a linebacker.3 Upon graduating, he signed with the Buffalo Bills briefly before a knee injury forced him into retirement.3
Sanders spent time as the athletic director for Silver Creek Central School District before being named the defensive line coach for Lehigh.3 In 1968, he returned to his alma mater, Buffalo, in the same capacity.3 In 1969, he was hired as the defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator for Northern Illinois.3 He accepted the same positions for Lehigh in 1973.3
Sanders was named as the successor to Alex Yunevich for Alfred in 1977.3
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfred Saxons (Independent College Athletic Conference) (1977–1984) | |||||||||
| 1977 | Alfred | 4–5 | 1–3 | 5th | |||||
| 1978 | Alfred | 5–4 | 1–2 | 3rd | |||||
| 1979 | Alfred | 7–2 | 2–1 | T–2nd | |||||
| 1980 | Alfred | 7–2–1 | 2–1 | 2nd | |||||
| 1981 | Alfred | 10–1 | 3–0 | 1st | L NCAA Division III Quarterfinal | ||||
| 1982 | Alfred | 6–4 | 2–1 | 2nd | |||||
| 1983 | Alfred | 4–5–1 | 0–2–1 | 5th | |||||
| 1984 | Alfred | 6–4 | 2–1 | 2nd | |||||
| Alfred: | 49–27–2 | 13–11–1 | |||||||
| Buffalo Bulls (NCAA Division III independent) (1990–1991) | |||||||||
| 1990 | Buffalo | 2–8 | |||||||
| 1991 | Buffalo | 3–7 | |||||||
| Buffalo: | 5–15 | ||||||||
| Total: | 54–42–2 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
References
References
- "Sam Sanders New Head Coach Of Alfred Football". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, New York. February 11, 1977. p. 37. Retrieved July 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com
.
- Gaughan, Mark (January 17, 1990). "Sanders named UB football coach". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, New York. p. 37. Retrieved July 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
- "New AU football coach: Sam Sanders". Wellsville Daily Reporter. February 11, 1977. p. 10. Retrieved May 12, 2025.