Gordon Sammis enters his third season at William & Mary as the offensive line coach and his second as the run game coordinator.
Although the COVID-19 global pandemic limited last season’s campaign to a three-game slate during the spring, Sammis’ unit posted a successful year and was responsible for much of the offensive production. Left tackle Andrew Trainer highlighted the group’s individual accolades and earned second-team all-conference honors.
Under Sammis’ direction, the Tribe’s offensive line was a catalyst for W&M’s tremendous improvement in 2019. In addition to nearly doubling its scoring output compared to 2018, W&M averaged nearly 100 more total yards per game than it did in the season prior to Sammis’ arrival. The offensive line’s play was especially effective in boosting the Tribe’s rushing attack, which increased its production on the ground by more than 130 yards per game and scored 21 more rushing touchdowns than the squad’s 2018 figures. Additionally, the Tribe’s 26 rushing touchdowns was just one shy of breaking into the program’s single-season top-10 list, while its 462 rushing yards in the win against Rhode Island set a single-game school record.
Highlighting the individuals who benefited from Sammis’ tutelage was Mark Williamson, who garnered all-conference honors as the Tribe’s starting right guard.
Sammis completed a successful two-year stint as the offensive line coach at Lafayette College prior to joining W&M’s staff. Under his direction, the Leopards ranked first in the Patriot League in fewest sacks allowed and fewest tackles for a loss allowed. Additionally, he mentored a pair of all-conference selections, including first-team honoree Jake Marotti.
Prior to his tenure at Lafayette, Sammis spent the 2015 and 2016 seasons as the offensive line coach at Virginia Military Institute (VMI) where he was responsible for the running game and pass protection plans for a tempo run-pass option offense. From year one to year two at VMI, the offensive line improved its number of sacks allowed by seven.
Sammis spent time as the tight ends coach and offensive line coach at Columbia University from 2012-14. He served as the program's recruiting coordinator all three seasons, navigating the recruiting waters at an Ivy League school with the conference's highly selective academic index.
A 2007 University of Virginia graduate, Sammis earned a degree in Government after a playing career as an offensive guard that spanned from 2003-07.
Sammis returned to his alma mater as a graduate assistant coach from 2010-12, earning a master's degree in education in 2012. He worked as an offensive line assistant during his first season and with the tight ends the following year.
A native of Flemington, N.J., Sammis was a standout at Immaculata High School.
