James P. Small was appointed coach of Stanton Senior High School in 1934, where he served as Athletic Director and Head Coach of Football, Basketball, (boys & Girls), track (boys & girls), and Baseball. His outstanding coaching records consist of Football 312 wins, 76 losses, and 16 ties. He won 8 FIAA State Championships, 8 District Championships, and 16 Conference Championships.

In Boys Basketball 3 State Championships, 1 State Runner-Up, in Girls Basketball he won 1 State Championship, and 4 District Championships; in track, he won 1 State Championship, 30 conference championships, and 1 district championship, in baseball he won 2 state championships, 2 runner-ups, and 3 district championships.

Coach James P. Small other achievements and awards included being the prime organizer and first president of The Florida Interscholastic Athletic Association. He was the organizer and coached the first all-star (N&S) football and basketball games for Blacks and for the famous Durkeeville Baseball  Park which was later renamed to James P. Small Park in commemoration of his lifelong Leadership to the youth of Jacksonville, Florida. 

He received the FIAA J. B. Bragg Meritorious Service Award in 1954. Coach James P. Small was named “coach of the year” of  the "Big 9 North Florida Conference" in 1957.

The Florida Times Union, from 1952-57. He was given 20 year and 30 year Service Awards by the FIAA. He received Certificate of Appreciation from the Florida State Department of Education and 113 Emancipation Celebration  Awards for “Service to Athletics.” in 1968. He received both Life Membership Certificate from the FIAA and Outstanding Education Award of Physical Education Association in 1970. He was inducted into “The Jacksonville Sports Hall of Fame” in 1977, and “The Florida A & M University Sports Hall of Fame” in 1983. His outstanding legacy place Athletes to the professional level such as: Al Frazier (Denver), Al Denson (Denver, Minnesota, and Oakland Raiders), James Ford (New Orleans, Washington Redskin, Houston Oilers), Harold Hart (Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Bucs), Ernest Pough (Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders), Riley Morris (Oakland Raiders), and Chico Renfroe (Baseball Negro Major Leagues).

James P. Small was responsible for recruiting numerous students and athletes to his Alma Mater at Florida A & M University, some of whom remain on the staff as assistants namely Mr. Robert Mungen, Bobby Lang, Hansel Tookes, and Costal Kittles, others who enter the coaching profession in the public schools and ended their career as either an Administrator, Principals, or Deans. Dean Earl Kitchens of Florida Community College of Jacksonville, was the first head coach of Raines High School in 1965. James "Percell" Small was a member of the Omega PSI PHI Fraternity Inc.