Union University women’s basketball head coach, Mark Campbell, earned his 600th career victory Thursday night with his team’s win at Auburn University at Montgomery.
Campbell became the fastest college basketball coach in history, across all divisions, to 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 earned more than 600 wins at NCAA DIII 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.
Campbell said after winning his 600th game, “I am very grateful to serve at an institution where the mission is Gospel centered. I have had the privilege to have coached great players, with great assistants, great AD’s 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 fulling.”
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’s 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 D2 National Coaches’ Poll earlier this season. In his 19 seasons before this year, Campbell has led his teams to at least the national tournament semifinals 12 times.
Campbell earned 434 wins at the NAIA level and 166 wins to this point at the NCAA D2 level. Campbell has coached Union to four NAIA National Titles and one NCCAA National Title. Last season, his team advanced to the NCAA D2 national semifinals, ending the season 32-4. Since joining D2 and the Gulf South Conference, Campbell has won four GSC regular season titles, two GSC tournament titles, been to three D2 National Tournaments, hosting three South Region Tournament, with one south region title.
Photo Courtesy UU Athletics
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