MGCCC names Campbell new athletic director

PERKINSTON — Steven Campbell Jr. will be Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College's next athletic director.

"I'm very excited.  It's a tremendous opportunity, a tremendous challenge," he said. "I'm happy to be able to come back home and be a part of the Bulldog Family again."

Campbell spent a lot of time on the Perkinston Campus when his father, Steve Campbell, was the head coach of the Bulldogs football team. He would live here for eight years during that time and looks forward to returning where he's got deep roots to lead the athletic department.

"The school has such a great history of success," he said. "That's very attractive. There are top-of-the-line facilities, second to none in community and junior college. It's my home. I'm a Bulldog at heart and wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

Campbell, a graduate of Stone High who was selected for Mississippi's Bernard Blackwell All-Star Game, played tight end, center and long snapper during his playing career at Gulf Coast. The Bulldogs won two Mississippi Bowls and the 2010 MACJC championship.

He earned NJCAA All-Academic honors at MGCCC, then went on to earn his bachelor's degree in economics at Ole Miss. Campbell joined his father's coaching staff at the University of Central Arkansas, where he was quality control assistant for defense/inside linebackers. He also completed his master's in business administration while there.

Campbell joined the coaching staff at Virginia Tech in 2016, where he was the special teams quality control assistant. The Hokies went 10-4, winning the ACC Coastal Division and the Belk Bowl.

"We are excited to bring Steven back to Gulf Coast," said Dr. Ladd Taylor, Perkinston Campus Vice President. "He knows our history and culture having lived and played here. He's going to be an outstanding athletic director."

The athletic department holds the Halbrook Award for the fourth time since 2009-2010. The award goes to the school that graduates the highest percentage of student-athletes, 98 percent in 2015-16.

The school won its sixth national championship this year when golfer Colin Troxler won the individual title at the NJCAA Division II Championship in Mesa, Ariz. Campbell's father coached the 2007 national championship football team.

Gulf Coast sent 38 players last year to continue their athletic careers at four-year schools.

"We want to continue successfully graduating our student-athletes," Campbell said. "We want to win championships on the field, as well."

For more information on MGCCC's 10 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCAthletics on Twitter and BulldogLIVE on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.