{{Short description|English football manager (born 1976)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Sam Laity | image = Sam Laity during Gotham Angel City Sep 7 25-001 (cropped).jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Laity with Angel City in 2025 | fullname = Sam James Laity<ref name="bmd">{{cite web|url=https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=DXnXshWD0%2BLqwKo8k71iGg&scan=1|title=Index entry|accessdate=7 January 2022|work=FreeBMD|publisher=Office for National Statistics}}</ref> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1976|7|3}}<ref>{{cite tweet |author=OL Reign |author-link=OL Reign |user=OLReign |number=881890303606763520 |date=3 July 2017 |title=Join us in wishing a very happy birthday to Reign FC assistant coach Sam Laity! |access-date=7 January 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220107164524/https://twitter.com/OLReign/status/881890303606763520 |archive-date=7 January 2022}}</ref><ref name="bmd"/> | birth_place = Plymouth, England<ref name="sah-2013">{{cite news |url=https://www.sounderatheart.com/seattle-womens-soccer/2013/2/22/4016442/solo-french-reign-sounders-women-coach |title=Seattle Women's Soccer Round-up |date=22 February 2013 |access-date=17 April 2023 |work=Sounder at Heart |author=soundermom |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107160023/https://www.sounderatheart.com/seattle-womens-soccer/2013/2/22/4016442/solo-french-reign-sounders-women-coach |archive-date=7 January 2022}}</ref> | death_date = | death_place = | height = | position = | currentclub = | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | collegeyears1 = | college1 = | collegecaps1 = | collegegoals1 = | years1 = | clubs1 = | caps1 = | goals1 = | nationalyears1 = | nationalteam1 = | nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 = | medaltemplates = | club-update = | nationalteam-update = | manageryears1 = 2013–2022 | managerclubs1 = Seattle Reign FC (assistant) | manageryears2 = 2021 | managerclubs2 = Seattle Reign FC (interim) | manageryears3 = 2022–2023 | managerclubs3 = Houston Dash | manageryears4 = 2025 | managerclubs4 = Angel City FC (interim) | manageryears5 = 2025– | managerclubs5 = Angel City FC (assistant) }} '''Sam James Laity''' (born 3 July 1976) is an English football manager who is currently a senior assistant coach at Angel City FC in the American National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). He was previously an assistant coach for fellow American teams Houston Dash and Seattle Reign FC, where he also served as interim coach for a period in 2021.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.houstondynamofc.com/houstondash/news/houston-dash-name-sam-laity-as-head-coach |title=Houston Dash name Sam Laity as head coach |publisher=Houston Dynamo FC}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.olreign.com/news/2022/12/21/thank-you-sam-laity-1 |title=Thank You, Sam Laity |publisher=OL Reign |date=21 December 2022}}</ref><ref name="reuters-dash">{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/houston-dash/story/4836093/houston-dash-hire-former-reigh-assistant-sam-laity-as-coach |title=Houston Dash hire former Reigh assistant Sam Laity as head coach |date=21 December 2022 |access-date=17 April 2023 |publisher=ESPN |agency=Reuters}}</ref><ref name="laity-fired">{{cite press release |url=https://www.houstondynamofc.com/houstondash/news/houston-dash-part-ways-with-head-coach |title=Houston Dash part ways with head coach |date=September 6, 2023 |access-date=September 6, 2023 |publisher=Houston Dynamo}}</ref>
== Early life == Laity attended university in Plymouth, England, where he began coaching girls' school programs for the Devon County Football Association. After completing his studies, Laity moved to the United States to continue his work in the sport. He worked as a coach for Seattle-area youth clubs Dos FC, Westsound FC, and Pacific Premier, was director of the Pacific Northwest Soccer Club in Tukwila, Washington, and worked as a regional staff instructor and coaching education and licensing coordinator for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.<ref name="sah-2013"/><ref name="sah-interim">{{cite news |url=https://www.sounderatheart.com/seattle-reign/2022/2/22/22944874/sam-laity-ol-reign-best-kept-secret-interview |title=Sam Laity no longer is OL Reign’s best-kept secret |date=22 February 2022 |access-date=17 April 2023 |work=Sounder at Heart |first=Susie |last=Rantz}}</ref>
== Managerial career == ===Seattle Reign (assistant and interim), 2013–2022=== Laity was an assistant coach for Seattle Reign FC, later renamed to Reign FC and OL Reign, from its inaugural season in 2013<ref>{{cite news |url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2013/04/12/seattle-reign-fc-preview-2013-nwsl-national-womens-soccer-league/ |title=For Reign, first kick a chance to start fresh |date=12 April 2013 |access-date=17 April 2023 |work=The Equalizer |first=Jeff |last=Kassouf}}</ref> until 2022.<ref name="reuters-dash"/> During his tenure, he was an assistant to Laura Harvey, Vlatko Andonovski, and Farid Benstiti, and served as interim coach for six matches after Benstiti's resignation during the 2021 season. He was also a coach in the Reign's academy system from its incorporation in 2016 to 2019.<ref name="sah-interim"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sounderatheart.com/2016/1/14/10773170/seattle-reign-launch-academy-system/comment/354187363 |title= Seattle Reign launch Academy system |date=January 14, 2016 |access-date=April 17, 2023 |work=Sounder at Heart |first=Susie |last=Rantz}}</ref>
===Houston Dash, 2022–2023=== On 21 December 2022, NWSL club Houston Dash hired Laity as head coach.<ref name="reuters-dash"/> On 6 September 2023, the Dash fired Laity.<ref name="laity-fired"/>
=== Angel City FC, 2025– === On January 22, 2025, NWSL club Angel City FC announced along with their preseason roster, that they are hired Laity as interim head coach during their search for a new head coach after the departure of Becki Tweed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Angel City Announces 2025 Preseason Roster and Technical Staff |url=https://angelcity.com/acfc-post/angel-city-announces-2025-preseason-roster-and-technical-staff |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=angelcity.com |language=en}}</ref> Laity is expected to remain in the role until June 1, 2025, when incoming head coach Alexander Straus begins their tenure, while Laity will remain on the coaching staff as a senior assistant coach once Straus arrives.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-06 |title=Angel City to wait until June for full-time coach |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/44141500/angel-city-fc-remain-permanent-coach-june |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>
== Managerial statistics == {{updated|14 April 2023}} {| class=wikitable style=text-align:center |+ Managerial record by team and tenure |- !rowspan=2|Team !rowspan=2|From !rowspan=2|To !colspan=5|Record !rowspan=2|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- !{{abbr|P|Matches played}}!!{{abbr|W|Matches won}}!!{{abbr|D|Matches drawn}}!!{{abbr|L|Matches lost}}!!{{abbr|Win %|Win percentage}} |- |align=left|OL Reign<br>(interim) |align=left|2 July 2021 |align=left|8 August 2021 {{WDL|6|4|0|2|decimals=1}} |<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cristobal |first1=Jacob |title=Laura Harvey returns as head coach of OL Reign |url=https://www.sounderatheart.com/seattle-reign/2021/7/15/22578938/laura-harvey-head-coach-ol-reign |access-date=16 July 2021 |work=Sounder At Heart |date=15 July 2021 |archive-date=28 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528135309/https://www.sounderatheart.com/seattle-reign/2021/7/15/22578938/laura-harvey-head-coach-ol-reign |url-status=dead }}</ref> |- |align=left|Houston Dash |align=left|26 March 2023 |align=left|6 September 2023 {{WDL|24|6|8|10|decimals=1}} |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fbref.com/en/squads/e813709a/Houston-Dash-Stats |title=2023 Houston Dash Stats (NWSL) |work=FBRef |access-date=6 September 2023}}</ref> |- !colspan=3|Total {{WDLtot|30|10|8|12|decimals=1}} ! |}
== Personal life == Laity is a fan of architecture and especially admires the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri, and structures in Boston, Massachusetts.<ref name="sah-interim"/>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{LinkedIn page|in/sam-laity-68957712}}
{{OL Reign managers}} {{Houston Dash managers}} {{Angel City FC managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Laity, Sam}} Category:1976 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Plymouth, Devon Category:Seattle Reign FC head coaches Category:Houston Dash head coaches Category:English expatriate football managers Category:National Women's Soccer League head coaches Category:Seattle Reign FC non-playing staff Category:Houston Dash non-playing staff
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