Page 44 - Toledo Football Media Guide - 2012

44 THE COACHES

In 2011, Campbell’s ofense ranked No. 8 nationally and frst in the MAC in scoring ofense (42.2), and 10th in the country and No. 1 in the MAC in total ofense (481.3). And when Beckman assumed the Illinois head coaching position at the end of the regular sea-son, Campbell was tabbed to take over the helm.

Campbell’s head coaching career got of to a great start with an excit-ing 42-41 victory over Air Force in the Military Bowl, making him one of only a handful of head coaches to pick up their frst win in a bowl game.

Growing Up in Football Country

Campbell was born and grew up in Massillon, OH, a football hotbed famous for presenting everymale baby a miniature football at the hospital nursery. His father, Rick, was the football coach at Massillon Jackson High School, a rival to Campbell’s own high school, Massil-lon Perry. An outstanding high school football player, Campbell played college football at Mount Union, just a short drive from his home.

Campbell thrived under legendary coach Larry Kehres, twice earning frst-team All-America and Ohio Athletic Con-ference defensive lineman of the year honors. Better still, Campbell was a vital part of three consecutive NCAA Division III national titles (2000, 2001, 2002). Dur-ing his career at Mount Union, he had 207 tackles, 49 tackles for loss and 22 sacks. Campbell also excelled in the classroom, earning CoSIDA Academic All-America honors and graduating in 2002.

Learning the Coaching Ropes

Campbell began his coaching career as the ofensive graduate assistant at Bowl-ing Green in 2003 and 2004, working with the tight ends for teams that won the 2003 Motor City Bowl and 2004 GMAC Bowl. He then returned to his alma mater for the 2005 season as ofensive coordinator/of-fensive line coach. In his two seasons lead-

ing the Mount Union ofense, Camp-bell and the Purple Raiders went 29-1 and won two NCAA Division III national titles.

In those two seasons at Mount Union, Campbell mentored six All-Americans on ofense, including future NFL star wide receiver Pierre Garcon. Campbell returned toBowlingGreen as an assistant coach for two seasons, one as the ofensive line coach (2007) and one as the ofensive line coach/ running game coordinator (2008). The 2007 Falcons went 8-5 and earned a trip to the GMAC Bowl.

Firing Up the Rocket Ofense

The next coaching stop for Campbell was a 20-minute drive up I-75 when Tim Beckman hired him to become Toledo’s ofensive coordinator in 2009. Beck-man and Campbell coached together for one season at Bowling Green in 2004 when Beckman was an as-sistant and Campbell was a graduate assistant. They worked together to re-energize the Rocket ofense.

oach Matt Campbell

Campbell and the Rockets visited patients atToledo Children’s Hospital last December. Campbell requires all his players to participate in community service in the of-season.