Steve Campbell (American football)

Steve Campbell (born April 11, 1966) is an American college football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Central Arkansas, a position he has held since December 2013. Campbell has previously served in the same capacity at Delta State University from 1999 to 2001, as well as at two National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) institutions — Southwest Mississippi Community College (1997–1998) and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (2004–2013). He has been involved with three National Championship winning teams — first as a NCAA Division II player in 1987, then as a D-II head coach in 2000 and lastly as a junior college head coach in 2007.

Personal life

Campbell was a football player in college, starting at center in 43 straight games for Southeastern Louisiana and Troy State University. In 1987, he was a member of the NCAA Division II National Championship team at Troy, and was named an All-Gulf South Conference first team selection. Campbell was named Academic All-Conference three times and graduated Cum Laude from Troy State with a bachelor's degree in Economics. He also earned a Master's in Business Administration from Auburn University.

Coaching career

Campbell's coaching career started as a graduate assistant at Auburn University under head coach Pat Dye, where he helped the Tigers win back-to-back SEC titles. While on the Plains, Campbell got experience coaching in two bowl games, including the 1990 Hall of Fame Bowl where they defeated Ohio State 31–14.

His first full-time position was as offensive line coach and strength and conditioning coach at Delta State University in 1990. He spent his final season as the offensive coordinator for DSU before taking the position of offensive coordinator and backfield coach under Rick Rhoades at Nicholls State University in 1993 (Rhoades was Campbell's coach at Troy).

In 1997, Cambell received his first head coaching position, taking over at Southwest Mississippi Community College where he had spent the previous season coaching the running backs. During his two seasons with the Bears, Campbell's teams went 12–8 including the school's first winning season in 12 years.

Campbell returned to Delta State University as head coach in 1999, compiling a 27–8 record over three seasons which is a school record .771 winning percentage. His no-huddle offense shattered 12 Gulf South Conference Records and six NCAA Division II records. DSU also won the 2000 NCAA Division II National Championship, with Campbell earning National Coach of the Year honors by three different organizations.

In 2002, Campbell became the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Middle Tennessee State University. At Middle Tennessee, Campbell's offense produced a 1,000-yard rusher and scored more than 20 points against three of the four SEC teams faced, including a win at in-state rival Vanderbilt.^[1]

He then served as offensive line coach for Jackie Sherrill in his last season at Mississippi State before taking the head coaching position at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in March 2004. At MGCCC, he went 87–22 (.798) over ten seasons at the helm despite his predecessor going only 6–12 in his two seasons in charge.^[2] Campbell coached Gulf Coast to a NJCAA Junior College co-National Championship in 2007.^[3] Several players on that team went on to play in the Southeastern Conference including Eltoro Freeman and Demond Washington at Auburn, Terrence Cody at Alabama and Chris White and Sean Brauchle at Mississippi State. Prior to Campbell's arrival, the Bulldogs football team had not made it to the state playoffs since 1986.

In December 2008, Campbell was a finalist for the head coaching position at Northwestern State University.^[4] Other finalists included Bradley Dale Peveto, co-defensive coordinator at Louisiana State University and a former Northwestern State assistant, who eventually got the job.

On January 12, 2009, Campbell interviewed with new head coach Gene Chizik to fill the vacant position coaching the offensive line at Auburn University,^[5][6] but the job was filled by Colorado assistant head coach Jeff Grimes.

Campbell led his 2009 MGCCC Bulldogs team to a 9–2 record after losing 75–71 in the MACJC State Championship game, ending Gulf Coast's bid for three straight MACJC titles.^[7]

In 2010, Campbell led Gulf Coast to a 10–2 record (the two losses were a combined six points) including a 31-17 win over Co-Lin in the MACJC Championship game and a 62–53 win versus #3 ranked Grand Rapids (10–1) in the Mississippi Bowl.^[8] The combined 115 points set a Mississippi Bowl record.^[9] A member of that team, Don Jones went on to be drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the 2013 NFL draft and made the team as a safety.

Under Campbell's leadership, Gulf Coast consistently ranked in the NJCAA National Poll, finishing #13 in 2005,^[10] #8 in 2006,^[11] #1 in 2007,^[12] #4 in 2008,^[13] #8 in 2009,^[14] #3 in 2010.^[15] and #6 in 2011.^[16]

Head coaching record

References

External links

• Central Arkansas profile