Sam Washington enters his second season as the defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach at North Carolina A&T under head coach Rod Broadway. This is Washington's second stint with the Aggies football program. Washington is responsible for constructing the Aggies' defensive game plan and schemes, as well as recruiting quality players to the program.

In one season, Washington led the way in turning A&T's defense from one of the worst in the nation into one of the most feared. In 2011, the Aggies defense ranked No. 1 in the MEAC in rush defense and was third overall in total defense. Nationally, the Aggies 'D' ranked seventh in rush defense and eighth in total defense.

In the secondary, cornerback Justin Ferrell earned first-team All-MEAC honors. Safety Travis Crosby was the second-leading tackler on the team and Washington made Terence Webb's transition from quarterback to cornerback a successful one. Also on the defensive unit, linebacker D'Vonte Grant was a Jerry Rice Finalist for best freshman in Division I FCS.

Before arriving at A&T, Washington spent four seasons as Grambling's defensive backs coach under Broadway. Washington played a significant role in the Tigers' dominating defense in 2007. Nationally, the Tigers ranked 12^th in total defense. During the next season, Washington's defensive backfield played a vital role in Grambling being on of the most opportunistic defenses in the country.

Grambling led the nation in turnover margin and were third in scoring defense. Defensive back Desmond Lenard returned one interception for a touchdown and was ninth in the nation in interceptions per game. Three other defensive backs raked among the top 50 in interceptions per game that season.

Before Washington came to Grambling, he spent five years at his alma mater, Mississippi Valley State. Washington served as an assistant head coach and defensive coordinator in addition to his customary coaching of defensive backs.

In his first season at MVSU,  In his first season at MVSU, he transformed the Delta Devils defense from one of the worst defenses in the SWAC into the league’s No. 2 ranked defense. The 2002 season also saw the Delta Devils give up 200 fewer yards than the previous season.

Washington spent one season (2001) as A&T's special teams coordinator under then head coach Bill Hayes. Under Washington, the Aggies had one of the best special teams seasons in school history. The Aggies led the nation in punt return yardage per game with punt returner Curtis Deloatch breaking the then NCAA record for punt returns for touchdowns in a single season. Punter Yonnick Matthews was second in the MEAC in punting.

Washington also spent eight seasons at N.C. Central as the school's assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. Led by All-American Buddy Crutchfield, Adrian Jones and current A&T assistant Trei Oliver in 1996, Washington put together one of the best defensive backfields in Division II as the Eagles went 8-3 with the best pass defense in the CIAA. In 1992, he began work at Johnson C. Smith. He was named the assistant head football coach. His other duties included being the defensive and special teams coordinator, the defensive backs coach and the head track and field coach.

He served as an assistant at Bethune-Cookman from 1987-92. At Bethune-Cookman, Washington was a part of the staff that won a share of the 1988 MEAC Championship. In 1998, he secured an internship with the NFL's Tampa Buccaneers under legendary coach Tony Dungy.

Washington is no stranger to the NFL. He spent four seasons in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals. As a member of the Steelers, Washington intercepted at least one pass in five consecutive games during the 1984 season.

Washington earned a B.S., degree in physical education from MVSU in 1982. He was inducted into the MVSU Hall of Fame in 2006. He and his wife, Donna, have one son, Jarvis.