The Department of Defense announced that a former Houston University football player was killed earlier this week when his unit took fire from enemy troops in Ghazni, Afghanistan.

Mack Rhoades, Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics in Houston University, extended the university's greatest condolences to the family of Sam Hairston.

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"[Hairston] is an inspiration to all of us and will always be remembered as a great Cougar. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sam's family and friends," Rhoades said.

He was survived by his wife Tawana, a staff sergeant, and their son Hayden.

Hairston, 35, played as a linebacker and defensive lineman for the Houston Cougars in 1997 to 2000. He came out of Choctawhatchee High School in Shalimar, Florida where he was the team's captain and Most Valuable Player (MVP).

He posted 55 tackles and four sacks during his 42 games with the Cougars including an interception and a fumble recovery.

Hairston, a sergeant 1st Class, completed the basic airborne course at Fort Benning in Georgia when he joined the army in 2003. He served as both a paratrooper and a platoon sergeant in five army and airborne regiments. In August of 2013, he was assigned to 1st Brigade Combat Team.

Hairston received many awards including the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation with two oak leaf clusters, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, Iraqi Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Among Hairston's qualifications were Basic Parachutist Badge, Military Master Free Fall Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Pathfinder Badge and Ranger tab.

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