Matt Campbell Named Offensive Line Coach

Post by **ZiggyZoomba** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 4:14 pm

Matt Campbell Named Offensive Line Coach

Former GA returns to BGSU after two seasons at Mount Union

Jan. 31, 2007

Bowling Green, Ohio - Bowling Green State University football coach Gregg Brandon has announced that Matt Campbell, who has spent the last two years as the offensive line coach at Division III power Mount Union, will assume a similar position for the Falcons. Campbell is no stranger to BGSU having served as the offensive graduate assistant for the Falcons during their bowl championship years of 2003 and 2004.

"Matt is an outstanding young coach who is very familiar with our players and should be able to step right in," said Brandon. "Throughout his career, he has been around outstanding winning programs and he knows what you have to do to compete at a championship level."

During his stay at BGSU, he worked primarily with the tight ends. He was a member of a staff for two nationally ranked teams which won the 2003 MAC West and Motor City Bowl titles and 2004 GMAC Bowl crown. He was studying for a master's degree in education administration.

Campbell, a 2002 graduate of Mount Union, was a member of five national championship teams as a coach and player for the Purple Raiders. The last two years, he coached the offensive line as the team won back-to-back national titles.

He was a key member of three MUC teams which won a national title (200, 2001 and 2002). He was a two-time first-team All-American and was voted as the Ohio Athletic Conference's Best Defensive Lineman in 2001 and 2002.

He also was a standout in the classroom earning CoSIDA Academic All-American honors while he pursued his degree in history. During his career, he had 207 tackles, 49 for a loss and 22 sacks.

"I'm very excited to have this opportunity," said Campbell. "I enjoy the system that Coach Brandon employs on offense and I know many of the key guys coming back so I'm hopeful we won't miss a beat."

Campbell and his wife, Erica, will reside in BG.

DURKIN TAKES POSITION AT STANFORD

Coach Brandon also announced that linebackers coach and special teams coordinator D.J. Durkin has accepted a position on the football staff at Stanford.

"D.J. has a great opportunity in front of him and we wish him nothing but the best," said Brandon. "He's a very talented individual who has an outstanding future in the coaching profession."

A native of Youngstown, he returned to his alma mater in 2005 to coach the defensive ends. He had previously spent two years as a graduate assistant at Notre Dame and two seasons as a defensive assistant for the Falcons in 2001 and 2002.

A four-year starter on defense for the Falcons, he was a two-year captain. He was awarded with the Ken Schoeni Award for his character and the Carlos Jackson Award for personifying the values of a student-athlete and the Leadership Award.

He earned a degree in business marketing from BGSU in 2001 and a master's in educational administration and supervision in 2004.

BRANDON ASSISTANTS CONTINUE TO ADVANCE

A list of all the assistants who have worked for Gregg Brandon and how they have advanced in the profession.

D.J. Durkin, Linebackers/Special Teams (Defensive Assistant at Stanford)
Mick McCall, Quarterbacks (Offensive Coordinator at BGSU)
Greg Studrawa, Offensive Coordinator (Offensive Line at LSU)
Dennis Springer, RB/DB (Defensive Coordinator at W. Kentucky)
Zach Azzanni, WR (Assistant Head Coach at Central Michigan)
John Bowers, LB/DB/DT (Assistant at Western Washington)
Tim Beckman, Defensive Coordinator (Defensive Backs at Ohio State)
Vance Joseph, DB, (Defensive Assistant for San Francisco 49ers)
Steven Wilks, DB (Defensive Backs for Chicago Bears)
Tommie Thigpen, DB (Assistant at North Carolina)

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 4:17 pm

Outstanding student and player -- winning background -- familiar with the program. Looks like a solid hire.

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 5:26 pm

Jacobs4Heisman wrote:Outstanding student and player -- winning background -- familiar with the program. Looks like a solid hire.

I agree, J4H. MUC is such a dynasty and I don't care what level they are. They win, do things the right way and I like the hire. Jon Mazur would have been another good one, IMO>

Redwingtom · Post by **Redwingtom** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 6:00 pm

I think the best news in that whole article is that our SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR IS GONE!!!!!!

jacojdm · Post by **jacojdm** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 8:21 pm

Jacobs4Heisman wrote:Outstanding student and player -- winning background -- familiar with the program. Looks like a solid hire.

Matt's Dad was my high school principal. He's a good kid from a good family. His dad is a great administrator and was a good coach in his day.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 8:38 am

Welcome Coach Campbell!

BGFootball · Post by **BGFootball** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:43 am

Redwingtom wrote:I think the best news in that whole article is that our SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR IS GONE!!!!!!

Too bad that special teams coordinator, as weird as it may seem, was one of our best coaches...I wouldnt be so excited hes gone...

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 1:52 pm

I too am sad to see Durkin leave. We needed the enthusiasm and intensity he brought to the table. Our LB's were doing some heavy hitting last year...

bgsufalcon24 · Post by **bgsufalcon24** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 3:20 pm

BGFootball wrote:
Redwingtom wrote:I think the best news in that whole article is that our SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR IS GONE!!!!!!

Too bad that special teams coordinator, as weird as it may seem, was one of our best coaches...I wouldnt be so excited hes gone...

How come whenever one of our coaches leaves, they are always "one of our best coaches" yet the staff as a whole "sucks"? If our special teams was the problem, then why is Durkin a "good" coach? Sounds to me like we're just afraid to call some of these guys out.

If Durkin was so great as our ST coordinator, then why did we have all those problems anyway?

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 5:06 pm

I have no idea if Durkin was a good coach or not. However, it is not fully fair to blame him on the STs woes. He had no experience coaching STs before it was thrust upon him mid-year, I don't believe. As a player I'm not even sure how much he even played STs.

It is quite conceivable that Durkin was a great LB/DL coach, but lousy as a STs coach.

I met DJ shortly after he was done playing, he was definitely a fiery guy. Whether that translated to his coaching ability I have no clue.

BGFootball · Post by **BGFootball** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 6:07 pm

bgsufalcon24 wrote:
BGFootball wrote:
Redwingtom wrote:I think the best news in that whole article is that our SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR IS GONE!!!!!!

Too bad that special teams coordinator, as weird as it may seem, was one of our best coaches...I wouldnt be so excited hes gone...
How come whenever one of our coaches leaves, they are always "one of our best coaches" yet the staff as a whole "sucks"? If our special teams was the problem, then why is Durkin a "good" coach? Sounds to me like we're just afraid to call some of these guys out.

If Durkin was so great as our ST coordinator, then why did we have all those problems anyway?

I dont blame all the special team troubles on Durkin. It is Brandon who has stuck with that shitty formation and Durkin has to do the best with the personnel he had. Im sorry but how can you say all of our coaches sucked when 4 just left for better positions? It makes sense I guess...shitty coaches get promoted.

I spent alot of time with the team this year and Durkins enthusiasm will surely be missed. I guarentee if you asked any of the players on the team who their favorite coach was, Durkin would probably be the answer most of them gave.