Head coach of the Durham College Lords baseball program for 28 years, Dempster has been instrumental in guiding the Lords to the level of excellence where it is today. 429-296 career record. His college coaching career was outstanding: National Championship Appearances (Ten): 1994, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2019 Ontario Championships (Seven): 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 National Championships (Two): 2011, 2019.
Coach “D” annually took part in the MLB envoy program, going on tour throughout Africa and Europe on behalf of Major League Baseball (MLB); with the goal to promote and grow the game of baseball to children world wide. For over a decade Sam spent his summers in Europe and other parts of the world (England, Netherlands, Sweden, Lithuania, Belgium, Kenya, Turkey, and Germany, as part of a group of coaches (under the direction of MLB) running clinics. Was awarded the Julio Puente Envoy International Coach Award by Major League Baseball at the American Baseball Coaches Association Conference in Orlando, Florida. The prestigious award is presented by MLB for unselfish, dedicated and passionate work in growing the game of baseball.
Dempster was also a long time Canadian scout for Major League Baseball’s Milwaukee Brewers and previously a scout for the New York Yankees. . He was also the head coach of the Great Britain National team, which qualified for the 2013 World Baseball Classic. In April 2010, Dempster was inducted into the Whitby Sports Hall of Fame. He was also regularly named to Bob Elliott’s annual list of the top 100 most influential Canadians in Baseball.
Devotes his time to helping the Oshawa Legionaires rep teams as a guest coach where needed and supporting the Legionaires elite program.