allow her to get“ front row seats” to her kids’ athletic events. However, upon entering the position of athletic secretary, Sampson said she was in for a rude awakening in terms of the role’ s responsibilities.
“ It was all brand new coming out here and I was in for a surprise because I thought the secretary just answered phone calls and greeted people,” Sampson said.“ It’ s been a very rewarding job though.”
Outside of those two responsibilities, Sampson has found herself essentially being the glue that allows each sports program to exist at Greenville ISD. Sampson manages everything, such as making sure each team has adequate transportation to and from road games, managing the budget for each team at Greenville High School and Greenville Middle School, making orders for important equipment for the team like jerseys, game balls and managing funding for the team’ s facilities such as locker rooms, film rooms and weight rooms.
Sampson also makes sure that coaches are covered for annual coaching school trips in the summer, including lodging and travel expenses. She also keeps close contact with each and every coach and does her best to meet each of their professional needs. Sampson manages all of this and more on top of being the primary communicator between the district and the community on all things athletics.
“ What I’ ve noticed is coaches are always very thankful. A lot of them to this day will always say thank you for all you do,” Sampson said.“ I love the responsibility of my role, I know it comes with a lot but everyone is very thankful and very appreciative.”
Sampson said she always tries to give whatever she can for the coaches at Greenville ISD because one thing she’ s learned through being in athletics is the impact coaches have on student athletes, not just on the field but off it as well.
“ I don’ t think there’ s enough appreciation for coaches and all the time and effort because they’ re definitely not doing it for a paycheck. They love what they do. Everybody can appreciate having a coach but some kids really need that role model, someone to look up to and keep them in line. They hold them accountable,” Sampson said.
As Hunt County enters the 2026 football season, it’ s important to remember that every role on and off the field matters and makes reaching the end zone possible.
It’ s a hard job that requires Sampson to wear a lot of hats but she said she still finds it very rewarding for the amount of gratitude she’ s received from coaches and the community.
2026 | END ZONE 7