Basketball coach Samuel thanks Compton background

Think for a moment about the first thing that comes to mind when hearing the word “Compton.” Due to negative connotations based on stereotyped depictions in the media, some might immediately picture gangs, violence and danger.

Yet, for Dani Samuel, a senior business administration major and student assistant coach for the women’s basketball team, Compton means something much more: Home. Community. Family.

Dani Samuel, a senior business administration major, had plans to play basketball at Chapman. But after her career was thrown off track, she’s found a new passion in coaching. SAM ANDRUS Staff Photographer

“I grew up next to Centennial High School, so I woke up to the marching band every day,” Samuel said. “We have block parties every Fourth of July and everyone leaves their doors open. You can just walk house to house and eat their food.”

The drum beats and trumpet blares are not the only sounds that come from Samuel’s neighborhood. Rappers Kendrick Lamar and YG grew up just down the street from Samuel, and NBA All-Star DeMar DeRozan lives right up the block.

However, Samuel didn’t go to high school in Compton – but to private school in Culver City - and credits her mother for affording her a strong education. From elementary through high school, Samuel kept busy by playing basketball, golf and softball.

“It allowed me to network with people of different backgrounds outside of my neighborhood,” Samuel said. Samuel would take public transportation to her high school, Windward School, every day. The commute was over two hours.

After high school, Samuel decided to attend Chapman to continue playing basketball and golf. Her tenacity and upbeat personality left women’s basketball head coach Carol Jue in awe.

“She has the most amazing attitude, was accepted to 10 schools, and had such a wealth of knowledge at 18,” Jue said.

But Samuel’s athletic career was derailed by nagging back pain. After spending about a year away from athletics, she approached Jue about an opportunity to write scouting reports for the team.

“My whole life was playing sports. After I stopped, I had so much free time on my hands,” Samuel said. “Basketball had been such a big part of my life and I wanted to give back to it the best I could.”

Now, Samuel spends nearly 25 hours a week writing scouting reports, looking at statistics and completing an extensive analytics sheet detailing every single facet of their opponents’ games. Just one of these analytics sheets is comprised of anywhere from five to 10 pages of information, breaking down the strengths and weaknesses of every player on every team.

“Sophomore year, she started writing scouting reports and some people were asking me, ‘Who is this person, who’s writing this?’ Jue said. “That year, we ended up winning the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) championship.”

Though she is similar in age to the players she’s coaching, she doesn’t feel disconnected from her peers. “I can relay information to them differently than the other coaches can, whether it be more straightforward or light-hearted,” Samuel said of coaching the team. “We’re friends; they’re my sisters.”

Working over 20 hours a week while still trying to get by in classes might seem like a lot. But for Samuel, it’s just an average week. In her time at Chapman, she has worked nearly every on-campus job imaginable: a Resident Advisor for two years, a member of the athletic department, a cashier at the Randall Dining Commons, an attendant in the mailroom and more. It’s built up to a hopeful future following in Jue’s footsteps.

“I would like to pursue coaching, maybe begin at the high school level and hopefully work my way up to D1 or D2,” Samuel said.