The Campbell Fighting Camels football program represents Campbell University in American football. The team is located in Buies Creek, North Carolina. Campbell competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the CAA Football, the football league operated by the multi-sports Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). Campbell's first football team was fielded in 2008, and they play home games at the 5,000-seat Barker–Lane Stadium in Buies Creek, North Carolina.
The Fighting Camels transitioned to offering scholarships in football (they already offered them in other sports) and joined the Big South in 2018, where most of the school's other sports teams were already competing. In 2023, the football team transitioned into CAA Football, coinciding with the rest of the athletic program joining the multi-sports CAA.
History
Initial Football Program: 1925–1950
Prior to being renamed after university founder J.A. Campbell in 1926, the Buies Creek Academy added football in 1925. The then newly named Campbell Junior College would win North Carolina Junior College State Championships in 1929 and 1932 along with a shared state title in 1939 with Belmont Abbey College and Brevard College.
Campbell would see football halted due to World War II, but would go on to win three straight North Carolina Junior College State titles in 1946, 1947, and 1948. The Korean War brought further strain on the athletics department as well as the increasing number of Campbell's opponents making the transition to 4-year colleges and universities, causing Campbell to drop football as a varsity sport indefinitely.
Non-Football Period: 1951–2007
In the period between football programs, Campbell became a 4-year school in 1961 and began competing in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. In 1977, Campbell moved to the National Collegiate Athletic Association and became a founding member of the Big South Conference in 1983.
Football Revival: 2008–Present
In 2006, Campbell University announced that they would be restarting their football program and play Division 1 FCS football in 2008. The Camels would play at the newly built Barker-Lane Stadium, which has hosted Campbell since the revival of Camel Football.
The Camels would begin play in the non-scholarship Pioneer Football League and remain in the conference through 2017. In 2018, Campbell upgraded its program to offer football scholarships and joined the rest of Campbell's athletic programs in the Big South Conference. In 2023, Campbell announced that they would be moving to the Colonial Athletic Association with the Campbell football program joining the Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference.
Dale Steele was hired as the program's first head coach since bringing back football, and coached Campbell football from 2008 until his dismissal in 2012. Steele's record at Campbell was 14–41.
After the 2012 season, Mike Minter was hired as head coach and would coach the Camels until his resignation in 2023. Minter had a record of 49–66 during his time at Campbell.
In 2024, former Campbell assistant coach Braxton Harris was named head coach and led Campbell to a 3–9 record in his first season since coming back from Houston Christian University.
Classifications 2008–present: NCAA Division I–AA/FCS
Conference memberships 1925–1950: Independent 1951–2007: No team 2008–2017: Pioneer 2018–2022: Big South 2023–present: CAA Football
Current coaching staff Braxton Harris Head coach N/A Eric Daniels Defensive Coordinator Linebackers Matt Kubik Offensive coordinator Quarterbacks Eric Amoako Assistant Coach Cornerbacks Matt Chiappelli Assistant Coach/Video Coordinator Tight Ends Larry Hart Assistant Coach Defensive line Ross Hornor Offensive Run Game Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator Offensive line Mike Ridings Assistant Coach Safeties Larry Dace Assistant Coach Running Backs Trey Lowe Assistant coach Wide Receivers Luke Sutton Assistant Coach Wide Receivers David Crane Director of Football Operations N/A Trevor Kana Director of Sports Performance N/A Marcus Olivieri Director of Equipment Operations N/A
Notable former players Notable alumni include: Brian Hudson Julian Hill, Miami Dolphins player and the first Camel to make an NFL final roster. Brevin Allen, Los Angeles Chargers player and the first Camel to play in an NFL game.
Year-by-year results
Statistics correct as of the end of the 2025–26 college football season
NCAA Division I championsNCAA Division I FCS championsConference championsDivision championsBowl EligibleUndefeated Season
YearNCAA DivisionConferenceOverallConferenceCoachFinal Ranking Win Loss Pct. Win Loss Pct. Standing 2008 FCS Pioneer 1 10 .091 0 8 .000 9th Dale Steele – 2009 FCS Pioneer 3 8 .273 2 6 .250 8th – 2010 FCS Pioneer 3 8 .273 2 6 .250 T–7th – 2011 FCS Pioneer 6 5 .545 5 3 .625 4th – 2012 FCS Pioneer 1 10 .091 0 8 .000 10th – 2013 FCS Pioneer 3 9 1 7 8th Mike Minter – 2014 FCS Pioneer 5 7 4 4 T–4th – 2015 FCS Pioneer 5 6 3 5 7th – 2016 FCS Pioneer 5 5 3 4 6th – 2017 FCS Pioneer 6 5 5 3 T–3rd – 2018 FCS Big South 6 5 1 4 5th – 2019 FCS Big South 6 5 3 3 4th – 2020 FCS FCS Independent 0 4 – – – – 2021 FCS Big South 3 8 .375 2 5 .286 8th –2022FCSBig South56.45523.4003rd –2023FCSCAA56.45544.5009th –2024FCSCAA39.25017.12514thBraxton Harris –2025FCSCAA210.16726.250T–10th – Totals 61 126 41 82
Future non-conference opponents Announced schedules as of September 16, 2026.
at East Tennessee State Norfolk State at Duke at Norfolk State Western Carolina at Wake Forest at Furman at NC State at Florida East Tennessee State at NC Central at Western Carolina
Notes
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