2019 marked the fourth year of Samson Malijani's tenure as assistant coach after playing under head coach Seth Roland from 2006-2010.
In 2019, the Knights posted the ninth NEC Championship in the programs history after defeating LIU 1-1 (3-2 PK's). With the win over LIU, Malijani joins the company of people who have won a conference championship as a coach and a player. The Knights entered the NEC Tournament as the number four seed and earned a spot in the Title Game with a 0-0 (3-1 PK's) win over Saint Francis U on their home field. FDU clinched a spot in the NCAA Tournament and battled with No. 18 University of New Hampshire, before falling 1-0 on a late goal scored by the Wildcats.
The Knights reached the NEC Tournament in Malijani's second and third seasons as an assistant in 2017 and 2018. In Malijani's four seasons at FDU, the Knights have a combined record of 27-32-14 overall and 11-11-9 in conference action.
During his playing career as a Knight, Malijani was named Third Team All-American in 2008 after helping Fairleigh Dickinson win the NEC Championship while earning a ticket to the NCAA Tournament. In addition, Samson was an Academic All-District honoree in both 2007 and 2008.
Samson was also a three-time All-Region performer, including being a First Team honoree in 2008. The Northeast Conference selected him as the Rookie of the Year in 2006 and he would go on to earn First Team Honors in 2007 and 2008 while earning Second Team honors in 2006 and 2010.
Samson was named NEC Tournament MVP in 2008 after scoring the game winning goal in the NEC Semi-finals, and notching a hat trick on the way to a record-setting 7-2 Championship game victory.
Was Loews's Senior Class Award finalist in 2010 which recognizes student-athlete achievement in the community, classroom, and on the soccer field.
Samson has also made his mark in the NCAA record books by achieving the 10th longest consecutive game scoring streak in NCAA history when he scored at least one goal in 10 consecutive games in 2008.
As for FDU, Malijani ranks eighth in career goals (38), ninth in single season goals (18 in 2008), ninth in career points (88) and 10th in single season points (41 in 2008).
An epilogue to Samson's storied playing career was his appearance with the Zambian National Team in 2014.
