Taurus Samuels ’22 has joined the Big Green men’s basketball program as an Assistant Coach, Head Coach David McLaughlin announced. Samuels spent four years with Dartmouth as a student-athlete and returns to Hanover to begin his coaching career alongside former coach McLaughlin.

“I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Taurus back to Dartmouth and the Upper Valley.  His impact during his career as a student-athlete both on and off the court was incredibly impressive in so many ways.   As teammate, leader, and positive member of the Dartmouth community, Taurus left a legacy that was present within our program even after his graduation,” said McLaughlin.
Taurus Samuels joined the Big Green coaching staff as an Assistant Coach in August 2024.  

Samuels returns to the Big Green men’s basketball program after being a student-athlete from 2018-2022. He played four seasons with Dartmouth, with one of the seasons being cut short due to COVID-19. He was a two-year starter and was a Co-Captain his senior year.

As a student-athlete with the Big Green, Samuels aided in taking down Big East opponent Georgetown his senior year by scoring a career high 23 points, which included six field goals beyond the arc. Also in his senior season, Samuels finished second on the team with 30 3-pointers, third in free throws made (42), and assists (40). The same year, he was the recipient of the John Di Iorio Award for hustle, drive and determination. As a first year, Samuels made an impact right away when he was chosen as the team’s Doggie Julian Award winner for spirit and enthusiasm. Throughout Samuels’ time with the Big Green, the team saw positive growth in conference wins each season. To read more on Samuels’ Dartmouth career, click HERE.

After graduating, he transferred to the University of Minnesota, where he played his final year of eligibility as a Graduate Student, obtaining his Master of Education in Sports Management. Samuels was elected Co-Captain of the team prior to the start of the 2022-2023 season. He played in 28 games, starting 13 of them, and played a vital role in mentoring the underclassmen, specifically the guards.   

Prior to Dartmouth, Samuels worked as an Investor Relations Analyst for an advisory firm, Teneo, in New York City. As an analyst, he monitored sell-side equity analyst coverage of the company’s clients, along with market indicators/trends that impact clients and competitors using different tools and inputs. He also tracked the capital markets and provided deep analysis of major events such as earnings calls, investor days, conferences, or major announcements to keep senior management and client teams as informed as possible.  

“Taurus was one of the best leaders I have had the pleasure to coach.  Some of the qualities that he had as a player, and will bring as a coach include; his infectious personality, a selfless approach and belief in others, a competitive edge that allows him to hold himself and others accountable, and an amazing talent to value and build relationships.  These qualities will be significant additions to our program and be the foundation for what is going to be a phenomenal coaching career,” added McLaughlin.

Samuels is originally from Oceanside, CA – a city in North County San Diego. He graduated from Dartmouth College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology in 2022.

WHAT ARE THEY SAYING?

“Taurus possesses all the qualities you would want on a coaching staff. He is a leader, tremendous communicator, relationship builder, and loyal son of Dartmouth. I’m thrilled he’s back in Hanover! He is a great addition to the Big Green program!” – Dartmouth ’79, former Northeastern Director of Athletics and former Dartmouth Interim Director of Athletics, Peter Roby

“Great hire by Coach McLaughlin and Dartmouth College. Taurus is a connector with infectious energy and passion for people. Taurus has an extremely bright future; I look forward to watching him make an impact in winning games and Dartmouth basketball overall!” – University of Minnesota Men’s Basketball Head Coach, Ben Johnson

“Taurus Samuels embodied the mission of Dartmouth College when he was a student-athlete by preparing himself for a lifetime of responsible leadership through his leadership development within DP2 and Dartmouth Athletics. Now Taurus has the opportunity to prepare future Big Green student-athletes for that same mission as an Assistant Coach. Taurus is an elite communicator and embodies so many characteristics of successful coaches in his habits and high level of self-discipline and accountability. I am excited to welcome Taurus Samuels back to The Woods.” – Corrigan Family Assistant Athletics Director for Leadership and Mental Performance, Stephen Gonzalez

“We are very excited that Taurus is back at Dartmouth. It only took a few recruiting phone calls into his junior year of high school to see that Taurus was a natural born leader who would leave a lasting impression on our program and this college. Fast forward seven years later and our former captain is ready to take on a new challenge on the bench and on the recruiting trails. His love for Dartmouth will be seen in many facets and our current student-athletes will benefit greatly from his return.” – Dartmouth Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator, Jabari Trotter

https://dartmouthsports.com/news/2024/8/28/taurus-samuels-added-to-mens-basketball-staff.aspx