The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Defensive Line
Sam Mills III enters his second season as UABβs defensive line coach in 2026.
Mills joined the Blazers in February 2025 after spending more than 17 years coaching in the National Football League. He brought extensive experience to Birmingham, including 15 seasons with the Carolina Panthers and two seasons with the Washington Commanders, where he worked alongside secondary coach Brent Vieselmeyer.
Mills began his coaching career with Carolina in 2005 as a strength and conditioning coach and defensive assistant before serving as the Panthersβ defensive quality control coach from 2006-10.
He was promoted to assistant defensive line coach in 2011 and spent eight seasons helping develop Carolinaβs defensive front. Mills was elevated to defensive line coach and game management coach in 2018 and remained in that role through the 2019 season.
During his tenure with the Panthers, Mills helped the organization reach the postseason six times, including a 15-1 regular season in 2015 that culminated with an NFC Championship and an appearance in Super Bowl 50. Throughout his time in Carolina, Mills coached and worked alongside some of the NFLβs premier defensive players, helping establish one of the leagueβs most respected defensive units.
Following his 15 seasons with the Panthers, Mills spent two years as defensive line coach for the Washington Commanders from 2020-21.
In 2023, Mills served as a volunteer assistant coach at Montclair High School in New Jersey before spending 2024 with Championship Analytics Inc. (CAI), a football consulting and analytics company.
Mills comes from one of footballβs most respected families. His father, Sam Mills, is a Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker who starred with the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers and is remembered as one of the most influential players in franchise history. The elder Millsβ βKeep Poundingβ message remains a cornerstone of the Panthers organization and serves as an enduring legacy throughout professional football.
A veteran coach with experience spanning the NFL, collegiate, high school and professional analytics ranks, Mills brings more than two decades of coaching and player development experience to the Blazers.
