AMP CAMPBELL JOINS FERRIS STATE FOOTBALL STAFF

Amp Campbell, a former assistant coach at Urbana (Ohio) University and an All-American at Michigan State University, has been named to an assistant coaching position at Ferris State University in an announcement made today (March 24) by ninth-year head coach Jeff Pierce.

Campbell will serve both as the Bulldogs’ defensive secondary coach and special teams coordinator. He replaces Darrell Perkins, who accepted a similiar assistant coaching post at NCAA Division I-AA Charleston (S.C.) Southern University in January.

“Amp is a quality individual who has a lot of experience in the defensive secondary, both as a coach and player,” said Pierce. “Coming into our program should be a smooth transition for him. Amp has had an opportunity to work at two different collegiate levels besides ours and that coupled with his hands-on coaching experience at Urbana should benefit our program.”

Campbell joins the Ferris State staff after spending the last two seasons (2002-03) as Urbana’s defensive secondary coach. This past season, the NAIA-member Blue Knights posted a 3-8 overall record. Along with being a member of head coach Todd Murgatroyd’s staff, Campbell also was employed in the University’s admissions department.

Prior to Urbana, Campbell served as Michigan State Football program’s Director of Player Development from 2000-02. While at MSU, his primary responsibilities included helping first-year student-athletes adjust to the college environment and assisting upperclassmen prepare for life after competitive football.

An unanimous prep All-America selection at Sarasota (Fla.) Riverview High School, Campbell received All-America accolades during his senior season by USA Today, Parade Magazine and Reebok. He also participated in track and field before graduating in 1994.

Based upon his performance, Campbell earned a football scholarship to Michigan State where he played for four years (1996-99) under then head coach Nick Saban. A starting cornerback in 37 of 38 played contests for the Spartans, Campbell was a consensus All-Big Ten Conference Second-Team honoree in 1997 and a consensus 1999 first-team all-conference pick. In 1998, Campbell suffered a life-threatening neck injury but completed a courageous comeback the following campaign (1999) from spinal-fusion surgery to earn Associated Press All-America Third-Team plaudits. As a senior in the 1999 season, the Sarasota, Fla., native set a Spartan single-season record with 26 pass break ups to go with two pass interceptions. In MSU’s 1999 season opener against Oregon (9/2), the team which he was injured against the previous fall, Campbell returned a Ducks’ fumble 85 yards for the game-winning touchdown in a 27-20 triumph.

Campbell, who finished his Spartan career with 141 tackles, seven pass interceptions and a school-record 56 pass break ups, had his name added to the MSU Football program’s Amp Campbell/President’s Award in 2000. The award, named for the University president, is presented annually to the team’s outstanding senior lineman and senior back who has shown the most perseverance. He was among three individuals to receive the award in 1999. During his collegiate career, Campbell was also presented with the Tommy Love Award as the most improved player on the varsity team in 1996, an Outstanding Underclassmen Award in 1997 and was given the Biggie Munn Award as a result of being the team’s most inspirational player in 1998. He served as a Spartan defensive captain on the 1998 squad.

A 1999 MSU graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in telecommunications, Campbell recorded a pass theft in the 2000 All-Star Gridiron Cassic in Orlando, Fla. He went on to sign a free agent contract with the National Football League’s (NFL) New Orleans Saints.

The son of Johnnie and Pearl Campbell of Sarasota, Fla., Campbell and his wife, Denise (Springer) have a daughter (Kiera). He holds membership in both the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and the Black Coaches Association (BCA).