CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Austin Peay assistant football coach Evan Harrington is on the move to the NFL. According to Austin Peay athletics, Harrington has opted out of his position with Austin Peay football to join the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff for the upcoming 2022-23 season.
Harrington served three months as the Governors tight end’s coach after spending 2021 as an assistant at North Carolina Central. He is now set to become as offensive assistant for the Cowboys. However, this isn’t his first position within the NFL and the NFC East.
Harrington spent almost three years with the Washington Commanders. He worked as the assistant director of Player Engagement and an offensive assistant. Harrington also played fullback for the Chargers. He made the conversion to the position in college at the University of Colorado after spending time at linebacker.
Harrington gets to work with one of the most talented offenses in the league this season. He will look to contribute to a Cowboys team that went 12-5 last season, and lost in the wild card round of the playoffs against the 49ers. The team’s offense ranked first in total points, points per game and yards per game in 2021.
Pass-game coordinator and receivers coach
In a corresponding move this week, Austin Peay football hired Lanear Sampson as the team’s wide receiver coach and pass-game coordinator. Sampson has worked for schools such as Central Florida, McNeese State, Missouri State and most recently Syracuse.
Sampson has a background as a player playing at the collegiate level and in the NFL. He was one of the most prolific receivers in Baylor University’s history. According to Austin Peay athletics, Sampson is ranked fifth all-time in receptions at the school and tenth all-time in receiving yards.
Coming out of Baylor, Sampson signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent following the 2013 NFL Draft. He proceeded to play for other NFL organizations such as the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers. After his time in the National Football League came to an end, he made the move to the CFL to play for the Ottawa Redblacks.