Florida A&M

Updated: June 2024

James Spady joined Wilie Simmons’ coaching staff at Florida A&M University in January 2018.

In 2023, Spady worked with a group of tight ends that combined for 49 receptions, 731 yards, and four touchdowns. Kamari Young led the group with 444 yards, and Koby Gross led with two touchdowns.

In 2022, Spady worked with a group of tight ends that combined for 29 receptions, 323 yards, and four touchdowns. Kamari Young led the group with 181 yards, and Jeremiah Pruitte led with three touchdowns.

In 2021, Spady worked with a group of tight ends that combined for 15 receptions, 183 yards, and five touchdowns. Young led the group with 140 yards and four touchdowns. Spady also coached the special teams unit that produced the nation’s leading punt returner, All-American Jah’Marae Sheread, as he averaged 19.9 yards per return and had the NCAA’s highest punt return game of the season after he had 154 punt return yards versus Mississippi Valley. Spady also worked with kicker and punter Jose Romo-Martinez, who went on to earn All-American honors.

In 2019, Spady continued to improve the kick return game for the Rattlers after improving it from No. 73 in the nation to No. 39 in the nation in his first season, to further improve it to No. 33 in the nation in 2019.

Spady made his most significant impact on the punter, Chris Faddoul, as he ranked No. 1 in the nation in yards per punt (46.8) in ‘18 and No. 2 in the nation in yards per punt (46) in ‘19. Faddoul was named to the 2018 Associated Press All-America Team - First Team and the 2019 Associated Press All-America Team – Second Team.

In Spady’s first season with the Rattlers, he improved the special team in blocked kicks (1 in ‘17 to 5 in ‘18), kickoff returns (19.47 YPR in ‘17 to 21.74 YPR in ‘18), net punting (36.7 in ‘17 to 37.41 in ‘18), and return touchdowns (o in ‘17 to 1 in ‘18).

Before joining the Florida A&M staff, Spady spent four years as head coach at Alabama A&M University (2014-2017).

He began his coaching career at UTEP as an offensive line graduate assistant. Then, he was hired as a tight ends coach in 1995. In 1999, Spady converted to defensive line coach, returning to coaching tight ends in 2002. He was exposed to the MEAC as he spent two seasons as an offensive line coach at South Carolina State from 2004-2005 and at North Carolina Central in 2006. His SWAC experience came in 2007-2009 as he was offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Grambling State University. From 2010-2013, he was a tight ends and offensive line coach at the University of Nevada.

Spady graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. As a player, he was 1st Team All-WAC (1987/1988) and earned a spot on the UTEP All-Centennial Team after starting all four years. He went on to a career in the Arena Football League before returning to the coaching ranks.

Spady was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, and lists San Antonio, Texas, as his hometown. Spady is a Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. member who resides with his wife, Barbara, in Tallahassee, Florida. They have three children, Aidine, Jalen, and Mason.

Coaching History
 

Year	School (Title)
1993-95	UTEP (Graduate Assistant)
1996-99	UTEP (Tight Ends)
2000-03	UTEP (Defensive Line)
2004-05	South Carolina State (Offensive Line)
2006	North Carolina Central (Offensive Line)
2007-09	Grambling State (Offensive Coordinator / Offensive Line)
2010-13	Nevada (Tight Ends)
2014-2017	Alabama A&M (Head Coach)
2018-	Florida A&M (Tight Ends)