Duncanville ISD honors head football coach Reginald Samples

DUNCANVILLE, Texas — Ahead of Friday’s “Best of the Southwest” where Duncanville and DeSoto football will go head-to-head in the most anticipated high school football game of the week, Duncanville is honoring one of their own. 

Duncanville ISD announced they are naming the Panthers Stadium field after their head coach, Reginald Samples.

We start with the legacy itself. 

“It’s no excuses. Let’s get it done,” said Ramel Borner, Duncanville assistant head coach defensive coordinator, defensive line.

It is a mindset Borner passes on to his players. 

“Maximize your possibilities and work hard at everything you do,” said Borner.

However, these are not mottos that Borner just stumbled upon. He learned from his former football coach, Samples. 

“For us all, he was a father figure, a counselor, a motivator. He drove us hard to get out of the poverty we were in,” Borner said. “Dig deeper and not worry about our circumstances but go after what we wanted.”

Borner played for Samples when he attended Lincoln High School. He later got a scholarship to play in college. 

“At the time, football was my way out. I was looking around about my gifts and talents. I was smart in school, but I still personally had no way to pay for college,” Borner said. “It provided an opportunity to earn a scholarship and create a future for myself. So, I just ran with it.” 

Samples has coached for more than 30 years in schools such as Lincoln High School, Skyline High School and now Duncanville High School. He has more than 300 wins under his belt, including state and district championships.

“We’ve tried to set a standard of excellence that people have noticed,” said Samples.

It is an acknowledgement that is now focused on Samples as Duncanville ISD named Panther Stadium field in his honor. 

“It makes you feel really good. More than anything else, it kind of leaves a little legacy for my family,” Samples said. “Just the whole environment of coaching and helping develop young men into productive citizens and seeing them later down the line come back and thank you for what you’ve done for them. It means the world.”

In turn, for players such as Borner, who is now coaching beside Samples, the world is the gift Samples gave him.

“Coaching under him, I feel like he’s still that same coach. He’s still got that same fire. He still presses me and tries to grow me as a coach and elevate me as high as he can,” Borner said. “I definitely appreciate Duncanville ISD for honoring him and knowing his value and letting him feel it. It’s a big thing. I would have never thought I’d see that, but it’s an honor to be witnessing it all.”

It is a legacy with endless touchdowns both on and off the turf. 

The naming ceremony for Panther Stadium field takes place Thursday, Nov. 2 at 6:30 p.m. before the final home game of the regular season against Mansfield Legacy.