Phillip Samuel enters his third year as an assistant coach for the Academy of Art men's basketball team in 2015-16 after playing three seasons for the Urban Knights, serving as a student assistant in 2011-12 and a volunteer assistant in 2012-13. Samuel also holds the position of Athletics Operations Manager for Academy of Art University, which he began in October 2013.
ART U's 2014-15 campaign under head coach Julius Barnes and his staff was the second winningest season in program history (7-19, 5-20 Pacific West Conference) and featured team records in 3-pointers made (148) as well as steals (211). Playing one of the program's
toughest-ever schedules (six top-25 teams), the Urban Knights had 15 games decided by 10 points or less, making more than half the games on their calendar exciting, competitive barn-burners. Perhaps two of the biggest highlights were a win over
then-No. 22 Seattle Pacific on the Falcons' home floor to start the year along with junior guard
Nick Cary's
buzzer beater, to give ART U
its first-ever victory over Chaminade in PacWest Conference play.
In 2012-13, the ART U won its first five home games and was one victory shy of capturing the sixth seed to enter the inaugural Pacific West Conference Championship Tournament. Coaching alongside head coach Julius Barnes, Samuel helped the Urban Knights produce All-PacWest Second Team honoree Ameer Shamsud-din PacWest and the PacWest Freshman of the Year in Alex Carmon. In 2013-14, the team produced All-PacWest Third Team honoree Alexis Moore.
Samuel himself represented ART U men's basketball from 2008-2011, serving as a strong leader and consistent scorer. On the all-time list, he currently ranks among the top ten in career points (626), free throws made (170), and in steals (66) at Academy of Art. Samuel was also one of just five Urban Knights to ever score 30 or more points in a single game (
vs. Holy Names on Jan. 3, 2009).
Samuel is from Las Cruces, New Mexico and received his Bachelor's Degree in Multimedia Communications from Academy of Art University in 2012.
