By Steven Aldridge
Union Sports Information Director
Union University coach Mark Campbell addresses his team during a timeout. He recently won his 600th game as a head coach. — Photo by Kristi Woody
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Mark Campbell, head women’s basketball coach at Union University, earned his 600th career victory Jan. 10 with the Lady Bulldogs’ win at Auburn University at Montgomery.
Campbell became the fastest college basketball coach in history, across all divisions, to reach 600 wins.
He did so in just 691 games, breaking the women’s basketball record of 706 games by Nancy Fahey, currently of Illinois, but who earned more than 600 wins at NCAA Division III Washington-St. Louis to start her career. Campbell is also faster than the men’s record holder, Kentucky’s Adolph Rupp, who reached the mark in 704 games.
“I am very grateful to serve at an institution where the mission is gospel-centered,” Campbell said. “I have had the privilege to have coached great players, with great assistants, great athletic directors and great presidents. Union is a special place where I get to serve Christ, my wife, my kids and my team, in that order.
“I really am humbled and really do realize that winning is not the goal. Changing hearts is the main thing. God allowing me to participate in that process is very fulfulling.”
Other notable women’s basketball coaches on the list include UConn’s Geno Auriemma in third place, reaching 600 wins in 716 games. Tennessee’s Pat Summitt reached 600 wins in 734 games, good for seventh on the list.
Campbell is 600-91 in his career, for a winning percentage of .863.
Campbell led his team to an NAIA record that still stands of 48 straight weeks as the No. 1 team in the national coaches’ poll from 2007 to 2011. He also led his team to three No. 1 rankings in the NCAA Division II National Coaches’ Poll earlier this season. In his 19 seasons before this year, Campbell has led his teams to the national tournament semifinals or finals 12 times.
Campbell earned 434 wins at the NAIA level and 166 wins to this point at the NCAA Division II level. Campbell has coached Union to four NAIA National Titles and one NCCAA National Title.
Last season, his team advanced to the NCAA Division II national semifinals, ending the season 32-4.
Since joining NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference, Campbell has won four GSC regular season titles, two GSC tournament titles and been to three Division II National Tournaments. B&R
