Union University women’s basketball coach Mark Campbell won his 700th career game Jan. 18, reaching that mark faster than any collegiate coach in history.
The achievement came in a victory at the University of West Georgia in Campbell’s 811th career game.
“I am overwhelmed with all the people that God has surrounded me with over the years at Union,” Campbell said following the game. “From assistant coaches, to graduate assistants, to student assistants, to players, and to high school coaches that did a lot of work to prepare players to play in college. I am very thankful for administrators that have been extremely supportive to the point that I never wanted to leave.”
In good company
Campbell passed the record set by Geno Auriemma of University of Connecticut with 700 wins in 822 total games. Adolph Rupp was the fastest men’s coach to 700 wins, in 836 games.
During his career, Campbell has won 19 conference regular season titles and 14 conference tournament titles over 23 seasons. He has led his teams to a third-place or better finish in the national tournaments 12 times.
Campbell has led Union to five national titles, including four in the NAIA and one in the NCCAA. He was the head coach of the USA U16 women’s basketball team and won a gold medal in the summer of 2019 with that team in the America’s Tournament.
Campbell reached the milestones of 500 wins (2015), 600 wins (2019) and now 700 wins all since Union rejoined the NCAA in 2012–13. In December, Campbell was announced as the next director of athletics at Union University, a position he will hold in addition to his coaching duties.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Steven Aldridge and originally published by Tennessee’s Baptist and Reflector.