Union University Athletics

Mark Campbell was named the women's basketball head coach for Union University in 1999. For Campbell, the 2025-26 season will be his 27th season as the head coach of the Lady Bulldogs, compiling an overall record of 775-120 (.866). Campbell is first on the all-time Union coaching wins list (current list: Campbell-775, Blackstock-509, Birmingham-198). 

The 2024-25 season was another historic season for Union and Campbell. The season opened with Campbell being notified that he would be inducted into the 2025 Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in June 2025. Campbell led his team to a 33-4 overall record and a 21-1 Gulf South Conference regular season record. He led Union to its 10th GSC regular season title and its 7th GSC Tournament Title. Campbell's team was the No. 1 seed and host for the NCAA D2 South Region Tournament, in which he won for the second time. Union advanced to the NCAA D2 Elite Eight in Pittsburgh, where the Lady Bulldogs advanced to the national semifinals for the second time since joining the NCAA. He was named the GSC Coach of the Year, TSWA Coach of the Year, and a finalist for the WBCA National Coach of the Year.

On June 1, 2023, Campbell became just the third Director of Athletics at Union in the last 50 years. He was named AD following the retirement of Tommy Sadler, who spent 38 years at Union, including the last 16 years as director of athletics. For the time being, Campbell will serve as both the director of athletics and women's basketball head coach.

Campbell is a member of the NAIA Hall of Fame (2019-20) and the Jackson Madison County Sports Hall of Fame (2021). He coached the USA U-16 Women's Basketball team to a goal medal in the summer of 2019. In the fall of 2022, he was named as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the history of Union University as a part of the University's Bicentennial Celebration. 

In his career, he has led his Union teams to a third-place or higher finish in national tournaments 12 times, including 10 straight from 2005-14. He has won five national titles of the six in women's basketball history at Union. Campbell was tops in the NAIA in 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, and then won the 2014 NCCAA National Title. He has two second-place finishes in national tournaments, 2011 and 2012 in the NAIA. He has five third place finishes, 2002, 2007, and 2008 in the NAIA, 2013 in the NCCAA National Tournament, and 2018 in the NCAA D2 National Tournament. 

Mark Campbell Coaching Philosophy

In 2023-24, Campbell led his team to a runner-up finish in the GSC Regular Season and a third-place finish in the GSC Tournament. Union advanced to the NCAA D2 National Championships, falling in the first round of the region tournament. Campbell's team finished with a 29-4 record. Union spent 16 weeks in the top 10 of the national rankings, including three weeks at its highest of the season at No. 3.

In 2022-23, Campbell led his team to two more championships: a GSC regular season co-title and a GSC tournament outright title. His team ended the GSC tournament on a 15-game winning streak and advanced to the national tournament as the 3-seed. The team advanced to the round of 32 before losing to 2-seed Eckerd. On January 18, 2023, at West Georgia, Campbell achieved his 700th career win in a record-low 811 games. 

The 2021-22 season was another championship season for Campbell and the women's basketball team. He swept the GSC Regular Season and Tournament Titles. Union was a perfect 18-0 in the GSC regular season and finished the year 28-3 overall. Union entered the national tournament as the No. 1 ranked team in the nation and had won 23 straight games on the season until being upset in the region finals. 

In the COVID-shortened season of 2020-21, Campbell led his team to a GSC West Division Regular Season Title, followed by Union's fourth GSC Tournament Title. Union advanced to the NCAA D2 National Tournament South Region as the #4 seed, advancing to the second round. He was named GSC Coach of the Year. 

In 2019-20, Campbell led the Lady Bulldogs to a 26-5 record, earning their sixth Gulf South Conference regular season title, third GSC Tournament title, and the No. 2 seed in the NCAA D2 National Tournament South Region. Campbell was named GSC Coach of the Decade and Tennessee Sports Writers Association Coach of the Year.

In the summer of 2019, Campbell was selected as the head coach for the USA U16 Women's Basketball National Team. His team went undefeated in Chile, winning a a Gold Medal for the USA in the American's Championship Tournament. His team also qualified for the U17 World Championships in the summer of 2020, in which he was set to serve as the head coach until the event was canceled due to COVID. He was named the 2019 USA Developmental Coach of the Year. 

Mark Campbell Coaching Milestones
Elected to Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
700th win - January 18, 2023 at West Georgia (82-64) in his 811th game (fastest college coach to 700 wins)
Selected to NAIA Hall of Fame
Selected to be head coach for USA Women's Basketball U16 Team, won Gold Medal
600th win - January 10, 2019 at Auburn Montgomery (43-40) in his 691th game (at the time, fastest college coach to 600 wins)
500th win - February 12, 2015 vs. Valdosta State (77-66) in his 569th game
Became Union Women's Basketball All-Time wins leader - November 13, 2015 at Rollins (76-68 OT)
1st NCAA win - November 16, 2012 vs. Brevard (70-50)
400th win - November 1, 2011 vs. Hannibal-LaGrange (79-62) in his 448th game
300th win - November 22, 2008 vs. Azusa Pacific (97-61)  
200th win - November 18, 2005 vs. The Master's College (79-67)
100th win - November 19, 2002 at Philander Smith (107-50)
1st win - November 5, 1999 vs. Tougaloo (92-57)

In 2018-19, Campbell led Union to a 27-4 overall record, a league-best 18-2 GSC mark, and a No. 2 seed in the NCAA D2 National Tournament South Region. It was the fifth GSC Regular Season Title for Union, and fourth trip to the NCAA D2 National Tournament in the five years of membership. 

His best NCAA D2 season to date came in 2017-18 when his Lady Bulldogs won a fourth Gulf South Conference regular season title and second GSC Tournament title. Union also won its first NCAA D2 South Region title, earning a trip to the Elite Eight. As a seventh season, Union won its first round game, advancing to the national semifinals before falling to the eventual national champions. 

In 2015-16, Campbell led his team to 20 GSC wins, setting a league record for conference wins in a season.

In 2014-15, the first season as an active member of the NCAA D2 and GSC, he led Union to the Gulf South Conference Regular Season and Tournament titles, a South Region No. 1 Ranking, No. 1 seed and host to NCAA Division II National Tournament South Region, NCAA DII Sweet Sixteen Appearance. Union finished 28-3 overall and 19-3 in the GSC.

The 2013-14 season saw Union post a 25-6 overall record and a third place 15-5 record in the GSC. However, Union captured the 2014 NCCAA National Title. The 2012-13 season for Union was the first year of playing NCAA DII and Gulf South Conference competition as Union moves through the DII membership process. Campbell led Union to a first place tie in the Gulf South Conference regular season standings. He also coached the team to the 2013 National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) MidEast Region Title and a third place finish in the NCCAA National Tournament.

Campbell closed out the NAIA era for Union with four straight trips to the NAIA championships game. Union finished runner-up in the NAIA in 2011 and 2012, making Campbell's record in national title games 4-2 during the NAIA era.

Campbell led Union to an NAIA record of 48 consecutive No. 1 rankings in the national poll. From the preseason poll of 2007 through the final poll of 2011, Union was ranked No. 1 in the NAIA.

In the 2007-08 season, Campbell led Union to the first perfect regular season in Union women's basketball history. The Lady Bulldogs finished with a perfect 29-0 regular season mark in 2007-08.

Campbell's .895 winning percentage following the final year of Union's NAIA era in 2012 ranked him No. 1 among NAIA women's basketball coaches with five or more years of coaching.

In his career as Union’s head coach, Campbell’s teams have won 20 conference regular season titles and 15 conference tournament titles. He has reached the 30-win plateau 14 times in his career and set a program record with 37 wins in 2008-09.

Over his career as the head coach of Union women's basketball, Campbell has been named the Gulf South Conference Coach of the year six times (2015, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2025), the TranSouth Coach of the Year six times (2001, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010), Daktronics South Region Coach of the Year once (2015), WBCA NCAA D2 South Region Coach of the Year three times (2015, 2016, 2018, 2025), NAIA National Coach of the Year four times (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010), NAIA WBCA Coach of the Year twice (2004, 2008), and the TSWA Coach of the Year seven times (2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2020, 2025). In 2009, he was named the NAIA's Coach of Character.

Campbell spent five seasons as a player for the Lipscomb Bison basketball team. He graduated from Lipscomb University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and from Union University in 1996 with a Master’s degree in Education. He went to Franklin Road Academy and is listed in the school's hall of fame.

After red-shirting his freshman season at Lipscomb University, Campbell went on to excel in the basketball arena. Campbell currently ranks 12th in all-time scoring at Lipscomb with 1,509 points. The 724 assists he accumulated during his career place him in the top five at Lipscomb for career assists. Campbell helped guide the Bison to five national tournament appearances, a 129-19 four-year record, and redshirted on the team that set a national record of 41 wins in a season.

After college, Campbell joined Union’s men’s basketball coaching staff as a graduate assistant in 1994 and then became the full-time assistant coach in 1996. He worked under the guidance of fellow Lipscomb graduate and former Union men’s head coach Ralph Turner for five seasons until being named the women’s basketball coach in 1999.

During his time as a head coach for the Union University Lady Bulldogs, he has proven to be much more than a great basketball coach. "I believe my responsibility to each of my players is to have a vision for who they can be in every area of life, and communicate it to them in a way that challenges them to pursue it."

Mark Campbell is married to the former Molly Graves of Jackson. They are the proud parents of their son Gray, born on July 10, 2002, daughter Ella, born on April 9, 2004, son Kalyan, born February 16, 2009 and daughter Mia, born July 26, 2010.


WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACHING WIN/LOSS RECORDS HISTORY

Year -- Head Coach -- Overall, Conference (Career)
2024-25 -- Mark Campbell -- 33-4, 21-1 (775-120, .866)
2023-24 -- Mark Campbell -- 29-4, 22-2 
2022-23 -- Mark Campbell -- 27-4, 21-3
2021-22 -- Mark Campbell -- 28-3, 18-0 
2020-21 -- Mark Campbell -- 19-6, 15-5
2019-20 -- Mark Campbell -- 26-5, 17-3 
2018-19 -- Mark Campbell -- 27-4, 18-2 
2017-18 -- Mark Campbell -- 32-4,18-2 
2016-17 -- Mark Campbell -- 17-12, 12-10
2015-16 -- Mark Campbell -- 28-4, 20-2
2014-15 -- Mark Campbell -- 28-4, 19-3
2013-14 -- Mark Campbell -- 25-6, 15-5
2012-13 -- Mark Campbell -- 22-9, 13-5
2011-12 -- Mark Campbell -- 35-3, 15-1
2010-11 -- Mark Campbell -- 35-2, 15-1
2009-10 -- Mark Campbell -- 36-2, 16-0
2008-09 -- Mark Campbell -- 37-1, 16-0
2007-08 -- Mark Campbell -- 35-1, 18-0
2006-07 -- Mark Campbell -- 30-6, 15-3
2005-06 -- Mark Campbell -- 31-6, 10-2
2004-05 -- Mark Campbell -- 35-5, 8-4
2003-04 -- Mark Campbell -- 32-5, 14-2
2002-03 -- Mark Campbell -- 34-3, 15-1
2001-02 -- Mark Campbell -- 35-4, 13-1
2000-01 -- Mark Campbell -- 31-5, 13-1
1999-2000 -- Mark Campbell -- 28-8, 13-1
1998-99 -- David Blackstock (509-89, .851) & Lisa Hutchins -- 31-5, 13-0
1997-98 -- David Blackstock -- 35-3, 14-1
1996-97 -- David Blackstock -- 35-5, 17-1
1995-96 -- David Blackstock -- 34-4, 16-2
1994-95 -- David Blackstock -- 31-3     
1993-94 -- David Blackstock -- 27-6     
1992-93 -- David Blackstock -- 33-5     
1991-92 -- David Blackstock -- 31-5     
1990-91 -- David Blackstock -- 26-4     
1989-90 -- David Blackstock -- 23-6     
1988-89 -- David Blackstock -- 28-6     
1987-88 -- David Blackstock -- 29-3     
1986-87 -- David Blackstock -- 26-4     
1985-86 -- David Blackstock -- 22-6     
1984-85 -- David Blackstock -- 31-2     
1983-84 -- David Blackstock -- 24-7     
1982-83 -- David Blackstock -- 19-10    
1981-82 -- David Blackstock -- 24-5     
1980-81 -- Peggy Birmingham (198-57, .776) -- 21-13    
1979-80 -- Peggy Birmingham -- 26-4     
1978-79 -- Peggy Birmingham -- 24-6     
1977-78 -- Peggy Birmingham -- 20-4     
1976-77 -- Peggy Birmingham -- 23-6     
1975-76 -- Peggy Birmingham -- 26-3     
1974-75 -- Peggy Birmingham -- 24-9     
1973-74 -- Peggy Birmingham -- 16-7     
1972-73 -- Peggy Birmingham -- 18-5
Total: 1261-232 (through 2016-17 season)