Sam McCorkle

Sam McCorkle
Biographical details
Born (1949-11-19) November 19, 1949 (age 75)
Big Stone Gap, Virginia, U.S.
Playing career
1970–1972Livingston
Position(s)Center
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1973Livingston (GA)
1974–1975Talladega HS (assistant)
1976Minor HS (assistant)
1977Etowah HS (AL) (assistant)
1978–1979Cordova HS (AL)
1980–1981North Texas State (assistant)
1982Ole Miss (TE)
1983–1984Vanderbilt (OL/TE)
1985–1990Livingston
1991Kentucky (assistant)
1992Austin Peay (RB)
1993–1994Austin Peay (DC)
1995–1996J. M. Tate HS (FL)
1997–1999Mississippi Delta (OC)
2000–2002Tennessee–Martin
2003West Alabama (assistant)
2004–2005West Alabama
2008Columbia HS (AL)
2009–2012Etowah HS (AL)
2013–2014Parrish HS (AL)
2014–2015Carbon Hill HS (AL) (DC)
2016–2018Oxford HS (MS) (OC/OL)
2019Lamar HS (MS) (OC/OL)
Head coaching record
Overall29–87–2 (college)

Sam McCorkle (born November 19, 1949) is former head football coach at both the University of West Alabama and the University of Tennessee at Martin. He grew up in Meridian, Mississippi and attended Livingston University (now the University of West Alabama) where he played center from 1970 to 1972. He began his coaching career in 1973 and held assistant coaching positions at North Texas State, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Livingston, Kentucky, Austin Peay, Mississippi Delta Community College and several high schools throughout Alabama. He served as the head coach of Etowah High School in Attalla, Alabama from 2009 to 2012. He served as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Oxford High School in Oxford, Mississippi from 2016 to 2018 as well as serving the same positions at Lamar School in Meridian, Mississippi in 2019 before he decided to retire.[1]

Head coaching career

On December 19, 1984, McCorkle was hired to serve as head coach at Livingston from his assistant coach position at Vanderbilt.[2] Never finishing higher than fourth in the Gulf South Conference standings, McCorkle resigned from his post on November 14, 1990.[3] His overall record from 1985 to 1990 was 20 wins, 44 losses and two ties (20–44–2).[3] After serving as an assistant coach as a number of schools, McCorkle returned to the head coaching ranks on December 7, 1999, when he was hired by the University of Tennessee at Martin.[4] After a 2–6 start to the 2002 season, McCorkle was fired with Johnny Jernigan serving as interim head coach through the end of the season.[5] His overall record from 2000 to 2002 was five wins and 25 losses (5–25).

Following Martin, McCorkle returned to West Alabama was an assistant coach. Following the resignation of Randy Pippin, he was promoted for a second stint as head coach at his alma mater in November 2003.[6] After two seasons, McCorkle resigned following the 2005 season after compiling a record of four wins and 18 losses during his second tenure.[7]

Head coaching record

College

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Livingston Tigers (Gulf South Conference) (1985–1990)
1985 Livingston 6–5 4–4 4th
1986 Livingston 3–8 2–6 T–6th
1987 Livingston 5–5–1 3–4–1 T–5th
1988 Livingston 0–11 0–8 9th
1989 Livingston 3–7–1 1–6–1 8th
1990 Livingston 3–8 1–7 8th
Tennessee–Martin Skyhawks (Ohio Valley Conference) (2000–2002)
2000 Tennessee–Martin 2–9 0–7 8th
2001 Tennessee–Martin 1–10 0–6 7th
2002 Tennessee–Martin 2–6 0–6 7th
Tennessee–Martin: 5–25 0–19
West Alabama Tigers (Gulf South Conference) (2004–2005)
2004 West Alabama 2–9 2–7 T–11th
2005 West Alabama 2–9 0–9 12th
Livingston/West Alabama: 24–62–2 13–51–2
Total: 29–87–2

Personal life

McCorkle's son, Blaine, is the head football coach for Northwestern State University.[8] Sammy's nephew, Sammy, is the head football coach for Dartmouth College.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ Kerekes, Drew (July 22, 2020). "Recently retired Sam McCorkle ready for life after coaching". Meridian Star. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  2. ^ "Sam McCorkle takes over at LU". The Tuscaloosa News. December 20, 1984. Retrieved November 24, 2011.
  3. ^ a b "LU's coach resigns". The Tuscaloosa News. December 20, 1984. p. 1C.
  4. ^ "Mississippi assistant named to post at UT–Martin". NewsLibrary.com. Associated Press. December 7, 1999. Retrieved November 24, 2011.
  5. ^ "Tenn–Martin coach fired, replaced". The Vindicator. Associated Press. November 1, 2002. Retrieved November 24, 2011.
  6. ^ "West Alabama coach resigns". Gadsden Times. Associated Press. November 22, 2003. Retrieved November 24, 2011.
  7. ^ "McCorkle steps down as West Alabama coach". The Meridian Star. February 10, 2006. Retrieved November 24, 2011.
  8. ^ a b NPJ (December 1, 2023). "New Demons' coach set in his schemes, focused on recruiting state high schools". Natchitoches Parish Journal. Retrieved December 18, 2023.