Sam Mills III

Biography

Long time Carolina Panthers assistant coach Sam Mills III was named UAB’s defensive line coach on Feb. 26, 2025. Mills III brings over 17 years of NFL coaching experience with him to Birmingham, 15 of which were spent in Carolina and two in Washington alongside UAB’s former defensive coordinator Steve Russ and secondary coach Brent Vieselmeyer. Mills began his coaching career with Carolina in 2005 as a strength and conditioning coach and defensive assistant, and then spent 2006-10 as the Panthers’ defensive quality control coach. From 2011-18, Mills III was the assistant defensive line coach, and was then promoted to defensive line coach/game management coach for 2018 and 2019. In all, Mills helped Carolina reach the playoffs six times, including a 15-1 regular season record in 2015 which culminated in winning the NFC Championship and reaching Super Bowl L. Following his 15 years in Carolina, Mills spent two years as the defensive line coach for the Washington Commanders. In 2023, Mills was a volunteer assistant coach at Montclair High School in New Jersey and spent 2024 working for CAI (Championship Analytics Inc.) His father, Sam Mills, is in the NFL Hall of Fame and played linebacker for the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers in the 1980s and 90s.