JACKSON, Tenn. – The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame has selected Union University’s Mark Campbell to be inducted as a part of the Class of 2025. Campbell joins six others including Alana Beard, Sue Bird, Danielle Donehew Sylvia Fowles, Lucille Kyvallos, and Cappie Pondexter. The induction ceremony will take place June 14, 2025, in the Historic Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Campbell is in his 26th season as head coach of Union University, where he has spent his entire coaching career. Entering his 26th season, Campbell has a career record of 742-116 (87%). Early in his 26th season, Campbell’s Union Lady Bulldogs are 3-1 and ranked nationally in both the WBCA and D2CSC Media. He adds the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame honor to his NAIA Hall of Fame (2020) and Jackson Madison County Sports Hall of Fame (2021) inductions.
“Overwhelmed, very thankful, and reminded about God’s grace,” Campbell said Saturday evening after the WBHOF announcement came during halftime of the Connecticut versus North Carolina women’s game on ESPN. “To be able to work at Union University and be surrounded by such a great community has been one of the greatest blessings in my life and my family’s life. Being able to coach and teach for the last 31 years with some great players and some exceptional coaches has never been a job. It has been fun and full of great experiences. Union is a special place and one of the few places where the most important things can be the most important things while still giving the program the opportunity to compete for championships. This is a recognition shared by everyone in the Union community: every player, every coach, the coaches that came before, and the faithful fans that continue to come out each and every year. The Lord has been very generous to all of us.”
Campbell came to Union after a 5-year playing career at Lipscomb University under legendary coach Don Meyer. He joined Union’s men’s basketball coaching staff in 1994 as a graduate assistant and then became men’s assistant coach in 1996. He worked five years in the Union men’s program for head coach Ralph Turner before being named the head coach of the women’s program in 1999. Campbell followed another coaching legend and fellow NAIA Hall of Famer David Blackstock as women’s head coach.
Union University President Dr. Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver said, “Mark Campbell is the definition of excellence. He leads, serves, and lives in ways that honor Christ and helps all of us be better. We are deeply grateful that his life has been invested at Union University.” Dr. Oliver named Campbell as the Director of Athletics in 2023 in addition to his coaching duties. Campbell became only the third AD at Union in the last 50 years (David Blackstock, Tommy Sadler).
Over his career, he has earned 11 conference coach of the year awards, four region coach of the year awards, six state coach of the year awards, and six national coach of the year awards. Campbell was also named the Gulf South Conference Coach of the Decade in 2020. He has led his team to five national titles, four in the NAIA (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010) and one in the NCCAA (2014).
Campbell has advanced to the Division II national tournament nine times in the 10 years in the division, including a national semifinal appearance in 2018. From 2007-2011, he led his team to 48 straight No. 1 NAIA National Rankings. In the first 25 years, Campbell has won 19 regular-season conference titles and 14 conference tournament titles.
Campbell added a USA Gold Medal to his trophy case in 2019, leading the USA U16 team to a gold medal, while earning the USA Development Coach of the Year Award.
Campbell was the fastest college coach in all of college basketball to reach 500, 600, and 700 career wins at the time of the milestone, a record that has since been clipped by one game.
Click the link for more information on the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and ticket information.
