Miles head football coach Sam Shade has been busy working to put his stamp on this new era of Golden Bears football since being hired in late January. But he is ready to begin unveiling the progress he has made in building the next great Golden Bears team. 

On Saturday, the Golden Bears will conclude their spring practice with the Purple & Gold game. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at Sloan-Alumni Stadium as part of Campus Preview Day and will feature an Offense versus Defense format. The contest will give fans an opportunity to glimpse the dawn of a New Day for Miles football. 

Shade has not been doing the work alone. His staff was recently finalized and includes several new names along with some stalwarts from the previous regime. Jamaal Fobbs is the Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator, who will also be responsible for quarterbacks. The Defensive Coordinator is Chris Shelling, who will also coach defensive backs. Other new coaches include Dennis Alexander (offensive line), Antonio Carter (wide receivers/Recruiting Coordinator), George Pugh (tight ends/H-backs/Football Operations), and Tyrone King (defensive backs/Quality Control). Rodney Bivens (running backs), Conley Langford (defensive ends/outside linebackers), and Ronald McKinnon (linebackers) return having multiple years of experience working at Miles. 

The Golden Bears have also spent time constructing the 2022 football schedule, which includes five home contests, which includes a Division I opponent, and games against two squads that earned Division II playoff appearances in 2021. 

For the second straight season, Miles will open on the road against Alabama State (Sept. 3) in the Labor Day Classic. On Sept. 10, the Golden Bears will host West Alabama followed by a Sept. 17 date with Valdosta State. Both Gulf South Conference schools are perennial powerhouses within the region and VSU played in the Division II National Championship game last season. 

Beginning Sept. 24, Miles will play three SIAC opponents on the road, starting with Central State. Defending SIAC champion Albany State (Oct. 1) and Benedict (Oct. 8) will follow. The next three games are at home, as Lane (Oct. 15) is in for Homecoming, followed by Kentucky State (Oct. 22) and Edward Waters (Oct. 27) to wrap up the home slate. The regular season concludes with a Nov. 5 road contest at rival Tuskegee, a team Miles has beat three straight times.