 Brian
Campbell
Head Coach
First Season
Tiffin, 1994
Brian Campbell, the winningest
softball coach in Tiffin University
history, was named the ninth
Head Coach of the Youngstown State
University softball program on June
17. 2008.
Campbell, who
just completed his eighth year as
head coach and his 12th year overall
working with the Lady Dragons'
softball program, posted an
impressive 285-129-1 overall record
and a .688 winning percentage during
his tenure.
Campbell
transitioned Tiffin into an NCAA
Division II program from the NAIA,
and in its first season as an NCAA
Division II, Independent the Dragons
finished with a 27-14-1 record.
Tiffin was ranked as high as 32nd in
the National Fastpitch Coaches'
Association (NFCA) national polls in
2008 while moving as high as 13th in
the NAIA national rankings in 2007.
Campbell, who has averaged 36 wins
per season, was named American
Midwest Conference (AMC) North Coach
of the Year in 2007 for the third
consecutive season after leading the
Dragons to a 37-11 mark, a Region IX
Championship and their second
straight appearance in the NAIA
National Softball Tournament.
In 2006, Campbell guided Tiffin to
an impressive 57-11 overall record
and the program's first Region IX
title and first NAIA National
Tournament appearance.
Campbell led Tiffin to
four-consecutive AMC
North Championships from 2004 to
2007 and the AMC Championship in
2002 with a 25-3 conference record
and a 31-17 overall mark.
During the 2005 campaign, the
Dragons compiled a 34-22 overall
mark and an 11-1 conference record
on the way to their third conference
title in four years.
Campbell led Tiffin to a perfect
14-0 conference record and a 39-15
overall mark during the 2004 AMC
North Championship season.
The Dragons earned conference
runner-up honors in 2003 with a
33-20 overall mark and a 16-4 league
record. They won their first league
title in 2002 after posting a 25-3
conference record and a 31-17
overall mark.
After four seasons as an assistant
coach, Campbell took over the Tiffin
program in 2001 and posted a 27-19
overall record.
Campbell has coached 39
All-Conference selections, including
2007 Region and Conference Pitcher
of the Year Krista Sowers, 2006 AMC
North Player of the Year Kristina
Schweikert, 2005 AMC North Player of
the Year Denita Robinson, 2005 AMC
North Pitcher of the Year and 2004
AMC North Player of the Year Rachel
Richardson and 2002 AMC Player of
the Year Kate Siroky.
He also serves
as a national rater for softball for
the NFCA Division II Top 25 poll and
is a member of the NFCA Division II
Head Coaches Committee.
Campbell, who
also served as Assistant Athletic
Director, is a 1994 graduate of
Tiffin University with a degree in
criminal justice. He also has a
master's degree in criminal justice
from Tiffin.
Campbell
played for the Tiffin football team
from 1990-94 on the offensive line,
helping to lead the Dragons to their
first-ever National Tournament
appearance.
He also served
as an assistant football coach from
1997-2000 and was an assistant coach
at Newark High School.
He and his
wife, Kristi, have a daughter,
Courtney.
Brian Campbell
Year-By-Year
|
Year |
Record |
Pct. |
Notes |
|
2008 |
27-14-1 |
.659 |
NCAA Division II Independent |
|
2007 |
37-11 |
.771 |
Region IX, AMC North Champs,
NAIA Qualifier |
|
2006 |
59-11 |
.838 |
Region IX, AMC North Champs,
NAIA Qualifier |
|
2005 |
34-22 |
.607 |
AMC North Champs |
|
2004 |
39-15 |
.722 |
AMC North Champs |
|
2003 |
33-20 |
.622 |
AMC Central Runners-Up |
|
2002 |
25-3 |
.646 |
AMC Champions |
|
2001 |
27-19 |
.587 |
|
|
Total |
285-129-1 |
.688 |
|
|
What Former Players are Saying
About Brian Campbell |
|
"Coach Campbell started out
as my coach but years later
has become like family. When
playing for him and coaching
with him, he has taught me
so much about the game and
life; no doubt knowledge
that I will carry with me
anywhere I go. He is the
kind of guy that will do
anything for his players,
current and former. Coach
Campbell doesn't just coach
his players, he takes the
time to get to know them as
people, something you don't
find everyday." -- Rachel
Richardson, All-American
"Coach Campbell has not only
been a role model for me on
the field, but he also
taught me and supported me
throughout many life
experiences off the field.
Coach always had his door
open for his players.
Whether you were having a
bad day athletically,
academically or personally,
Coach was always there
lending an ear. His demeanor
on and off the field was to
be respected and his
knowledge of the game
applauded. Coach Campbell
continues to remain an
integral figure in my life.
As I enter some of the most
important stages of my life,
he is supporting me,
advising me and cheering me
on 100 percent." -- Alexis Berg, All-Conference
"Coach Campbell was a father
figure to me while at
Tiffin. He was the one that
I turned to when I needed
something regardless of if
it had anything to do with
softball. He taught me so
many things that I will
remember for the rest of my
life. Since graduating from
his program, I have gone on
to coach at the college
level as an assistant and at
the high school level as a
head coach. I learned many
things from him that have
helped me be where I am
today. He expects the most
out of his players and
pushes them because he knows
their potential. He will
find success anywhere he
coaches." -- Tracy
Lehman, All-American
"Brian Campbell is an
excellent coach whose
character I respect and
whose conduct I admire.
Coach Campbell is a realist
and he knows exactly what he
wants out of both his team
and out of each individual.
He does not try to reach for
the impossible but to be
successful through hard
work, anything is possible.
He stresses the mastery of
the basic fundamentals and
this, in combination with
his incredible sense for the
game, allows his team to
advance to the next level.
he is personable and very
easy to talk to about
anything. His ability to
connect to his players on a
more human level is what
separates him from other
coaches. Coach Campbell is
one of the best coaches that
I ever had and I am thankful
for the opportunity to play
under him for the final two
years of softball.
Throughout my playing
career, I attained a great
respect and admiration for
Coach Campbell, both as a
coach and as a friend." --
April Nietrzeba,
All-American |
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