EUGENE — Ra'Shaad Samples, Oregon's assistant head coach and running backs coach, was charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII) and reckless driving following a collision in Eugene on April 12. The charges stem from an incident in which Samples backed his Ford F-150 into a parked Dodge Ram and left the scene.

Dashcam footage shows Samples pulling out of a parking spot, driving forward, and then reversing into the other vehicle. The collision caused both vehicles to shake, and the footage shows Samples leaving the scene immediately after impact. The incident occurred just before 2 a.m. local time.

Steven James Young of Eugene, the owner of the Dodge Ram, followed Samples down Olive Street and 7th Avenue. During the pursuit, Samples drove in the middle of two lanes before eventually stopping. Young confronted Samples for insurance information.

"Hey, you just [expletive] hit me, bro," Young said. Samples responded by asking, "Did I?" Young stated that he had dashcam evidence of the collision. Samples said my bad and agreed to pull over, though he ran a red light before doing so.

Text messages and a phone call indicate Samples gave Young a false name the night of the incident. Samples texted Young the name Deshaun Jackson" along with a screenshot of the USAA insurance app showing prior claims for a different vehicle. Young stated that Samples initially declined to exchange insurance information or provide a driver's license at the scene."

Samples later explained his actions in a statement. "I did not realize I backed into anything until I pulled away," he said. He claimed that he provided his real information but became frustrated during the interaction.

"He kept asking me, 'Who are you? Who are you?'" Samples said. "I got a little frustrated, and I gave him a cheeky response. 'DeSean Jackson.'"

Samples maintained that he attempted to resolve the matter cooperatively. "After I pulled over and stopped, I gave the driver my license and insurance," he said. Text messages indicate Samples offered to pay Young for potential damages instead of using insurance.

Samples reportedly offered Young football game tickets in a phone conversation. However, Samples denied this specific claim. "I don't remember offering him any game tickets," he said. When asked about the practice, he added, "I routinely give people game tickets." He explained, "If I meet someone who wants to go to a game, I give them tickets." He also said, "I don't believe I've ever told someone no."

Young emailed Oregon head coach Dan Lanning about the incident on April 12. He said a Eugene police officer provided him with Samples' real name after the encounter. Eugene police cited an ongoing investigation when declining to relay a full report of the incident. No field sobriety test was conducted at the scene.

Young had three passengers in his car, some of whom were minors. Young and one other passenger have claimed injuries and hired lawyers. Despite the circumstances, Young expressed mixed feelings about Samples' character.

"I don't think he's a bad guy," he said. "I think he made a terrible decision."

Samples appeared in Eugene Municipal Court for an initial hearing. His next court date is set for a future date.

Oregon's first game is on a future date. The University of Oregon Athletic Department issued a statement regarding the situation. "We take these matters seriously and have taken appropriate action," Oregon Athletics said.

Samples, 31, has built a rapid coaching career since his playing days ended due to concussions. He played college football at Oklahoma State and Houston. In 2022, Samples served as the Los Angeles Rams' running backs coach.

At age 27, he was the youngest position coach in NFL history in 2022. He previously served as the assistant head coach at SMU for 2 seasons (2019-2021). Before joining Oregon, Samples served as Arizona State's wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator.

Why It Matters

The charges against a Power Five assistant head coach carry potential consequences for his standing within the program as the season approaches. Providing false identification and attempting to settle damages outside of insurance protocols complicates the legal proceedings and the university's response. The outcome of this case will determine whether Samples remains available for Oregon's upcoming games.