Eric Samuels knows what it means to fight uphill battles.

As a senior at Umatilla High School (UHS), his football team didn’t win a single game. Not one.

A winless 0-10 season would crush most high school athletes’ dreams — especially after winning just 10 games total from freshman to junior year. But not Eric Samuels.

He put those difficult Friday nights behind him and played four seasons in the SEC at Vanderbilt, then professionally in the CFL with the Edmonton Eskimos, a saga that reads like a sports movie script.

Now, the UHS graduate is back where it all started only this time, he’s not wearing shoulder pads. He’s suited up in a whistle, a headset and a deep sense of purpose as head coach of the Bulldogs football program. 

“Coming back here, it’s always been a dream of mine to help build something special where it all started for me,” says Samuels.

Despite the struggles of his high school team, Samuels’ talent and relentless work ethic caught the attention of Vanderbilt University.

“I wasn’t prepared for the SEC level of competition when I got there,” he admits. “But those challenges helped me grow.”

Under Head Coach James Franklin, now at Penn State, Samuels developed into a key contributor in the Commodore secondary. As a senior, he played in 12 games, recording 35 tackles and an interception.

Franklin’s four core values—positive attitude, work ethic, willingness to sacrifice and constant competition—left a lasting impact. “I still live by those today, and I try to instill them in my players,” says Samuels.

Samuels also credits being part of the football scene since third grade and even more so, mentors like Vincent Brown, Sr., who was Wildwood Middle High head football coach in the early 2020s, for helping shape his coaching foundation. “Watching Vince and how hard he worked how much he cared, I fed off of that and still do to this very day.”

He also credits former Wildwood football Coach McKinley Rolle for continuing to help him refine his coaching skills.

“I was blessed to have coaches take me under their wing,” Samuels says.

After college, Samuels earned a shot with the CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos. He played two seasons, bringing his physical style of play to the Canadian game. When his pro career ended, he returned stateside, first to Nashville, then back home to Florida in 2015.

He joined the coaching staff at Umatilla High as a defensive backs coach in 2015, working under then-head coach Steve Seward.

Three years ago, Samuels got the call that changed everything.

“Umatilla’s athletic director at the time, Pat Todd, reached out and said the head job at Umatilla was available,” Samuels recalls. “It was my dream to come back to my school and get the chance to lead. I had to take it.”

Since then, he’s been rebuilding brick by brick. Under his leadership, Umatilla transitioned to the Sunshine State Athletic Association (SSAA), giving the Bulldogs a chance to build confidence, grow and compete more evenly.

“We’re changing the culture, emphasizing hard work in practice, discipline and what it truly takes to win,” Samuels says. “We’ve had ups and downs, but the progress is there.”

Samuels is keenly aware of today’s shifting high school landscape, with transfers more common than ever. But he believes his story is proof that perseverance and talent still get noticed no matter where you play.

“You don’t have to be on a 10-win team to get seen. If you have the grades and the work ethic, college coaches will find you,” he says. “We only won 10 games total during my four years at Umatilla, but I still made it to the SEC and played against some of the all-time greats.”

Samuels is also quick to praise Umatilla’s leadership, particularly Principal Brent Frazier, for balancing academics and athletics. “Our academics are second to none,” Samuels says. “We’re preparing young men and women for college and life beyond football. It’s the best it has ever been and continuing to improve year after year.”

Today, Samuels’ mission isn’t just about winning games; it’s about restoring pride. The Coach says Umatilla football once held a proud place in Lake County, and he’s determined to bring that spirit back.

He’s living proof that hard work can lead to incredible places and now, he’s laying that same foundation for his players.

“Being a Umatilla guy means everything,” Samuels says. “I want these kids to understand they can achieve greatness right here at home and they will.”

Photos: Nicole Hamel