James Sampley
James Sampley graduated from Fort Deposit Academy and Auburn University. Sampley became the head football coach at Lowndes Academy in 1994 where he stayed for the next five years. His teams finished a combined 41-18 and reached the AISA playoffs following each season. His 1997 team finished the season 11-2 and his first State Championship. They defeated Shelby Academy 14-9 in the title game. In 1999, Sampley moved to Fort Dale Academy where he has remained since. All but his first team qualified for the playoffs with the 2010 squad finishing 10-3 and the AISA Class AAA State Championship with a 49-21 win over Monroe Academy. His overall record coming into the 2019 season is 183-104 in 25 years as a head football coach in the AISA. Coach Sampley was named as the AISA Coach of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association in 2008.
Programs Coached
| Program | Years | Record | PF | PA | Playoffs | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowndes Academy | 2025-26 | 11-4 | 477 | 203 | 2-1 | 5-1 |
| Fort Dale Academy | 1999-20 | 147-102 | 6159 | 5491 | 13-17 | 74-46 |
| Lowndes Academy | 1994-98 | 41-18 | 1445 | 755 | 5-4 | 19-5 |
Season by Season
| Year | Program | Class | Record | PF | PA | Playoffs | Region | Region rec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Lowndes Academy | AISA | 1-1 | 40 | 19 | East | 1-1 | |
| 2025 | Lowndes Academy | AISA-AAA | 10-3 | 437 | 184 | 2-1 | R2 Title | 4-0 |
| 2020 | Fort Dale Academy | AISA-AAA | 1-9 | 106 | 307 | R2 | 0-5 | |
| 2019 | Fort Dale Academy | AISA-AAA | 4-7 | 256 | 403 | 0-1 | R2 | 3-2 |
| 2018 | Fort Dale Academy | AISA-AAA | 2-8 | 191 | 369 | R2 | 0-5 | |
| 2017 | Fort Dale Academy | AISA-AAA | 7-4 | 305 | 259 | 0-1 | R2 | 3-2 |
| 2016 | Fort Dale Academy | AISA-AAA | 8-3 | 306 | 235 | 0-1 | R2 | 3-2 |
| 2015 | Fort Dale Academy | AISA-AAA | 6-5 | 211 | 276 | 0-1 | R1 | 3-3 |
| 2014 | Fort Dale Academy | AISA-AAA | 4-6 | 242 | 329 | R1 | 2-4 | |
| 2013 | Fort Dale Academy | AISA-AAA | 6-5 | 382 | 407 | 0-1 | R2 | 4-1 |
| 2012 | Fort Dale Academy | AISA-AAA | 8-4 | 379 | 309 | 1-1 | R2 | 4-1 |
| 2011 | Fort Dale Academy | AISA-AAA | 4-7 | 234 | 312 | 0-1 | R1 | 4-2 |
| 2010 | Fort Dale Academy | AISA-AAA | 10-3 | 412 | 252 | 3-0 | R1 | 5-1 |
| 2009 | Fort Dale Academy | AISA-AAA | 9-2 | 361 | 138 | 1-1 | R1 Title | 4-1 |
| 2008 | Fort Dale Academy | AISA-AAA | 10-3 | 348 | 183 | 2-1 | R1 | 5-1 |
| 2007 | Fort Dale Academy | AISA-AAA | 8-3 | 269 | 130 | 0-1 | R1 | 6-1 |
| 2006 | Fort Dale Academy | AISA-AAA | 10-2 | 266 | 193 | 1-1 | R1 | 6-1 |
| 2005 | Fort Dale Academy | AISA-AAA | 7-5 | 283 | 246 | 1-1 | West | 4-2 |
| 2004 | Fort Dale Academy | AISA-AAA | 6-5 | 227 | 179 | 0-1 | West | 4-2 |
| 2003 | Fort Dale Academy | AISA-AAA | 7-4 | 267 | 224 | 0-1 | R2 | 4-3 |
| 2002 | Fort Dale Academy | AISA-AAA | 8-4 | 316 | 201 | 1-1 | R2 | 5-2 |
| 2001 | Fort Dale Academy | AISA-AAA | 8-4 | 280 | 176 | 1-1 | East-1 Title | 2-1 |
| 2000 | Fort Dale Academy | AISA-AAA | 9-4 | 319 | 195 | 2-1 | East-1 | 2-1 |
| 1999 | Fort Dale Academy | AISA-AAA | 5-5 | 199 | 168 | West | 1-3 | |
| 1998 | Lowndes Academy | AISA-AAA | 9-2 | 395 | 150 | 0-1 | East Title | 4-0 |
| 1997 | Lowndes Academy | AISA-AA | 11-2 | 346 | 94 | 3-0 | Central Title | 4-0 |
| 1996 | Lowndes Academy | AISA-AA | 8-3 | 287 | 143 | 0-1 | Central | 3-1 |
| 1995 | Lowndes Academy | AISA-AAA | 7-6 | 223 | 202 | 2-1 | East | 4-2 |
| 1994 | Lowndes Academy | AISA-AAA | 6-5 | 194 | 166 | 0-1 | East | 4-2 |