Amp Campbell enters his sixth season at Alabama State in charge of the cornerbacks, bringing an impressive resume to the Hornets program that spans 16 years.
This past season, in a shortened 2021 COVID year, Campbell helped Naytron Culpepper earn All-SWAC honors while also coaching three freshmen at the other corner position. He helped the defense hold opponents to 184.8 yards passing, while also helping a defense hold opponents to 17 points or less twice in just five games.
During the 2019 season, Alabama State was among the league leaders in points per game – averaging 27.4 points per game allowed. They also held opponents to just 167.2 yards through the air, and pitched a shutout over Mississippi Valley State. Under the leadership of Campbell, sophomore defensive back Culpepper earned all-conference honors.
In 2017, with Campbell assisting the defense, the Hornets finished atop the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in both scoring defense and total defense. The Hornets allowed 18.0 points per game and allowed opposing teams 303.5 yards per game of total offense. The defense held opponents to just 155.64 yards through the air. They also forced 24 turnovers (13 fumbles and 11 interceptions), including returning two interceptions and a fumble for touchdowns. The Hornets also sacked the opposing team’s quarterback 21 times.
Alabama State had one player named all-conference, Ronnie Scott, at the conclusion of the season.
He spent the three previous seasons (2013-15) as the cornerbacks coach at Kent State which followed three years at Western Michigan (2010-12). He coached both the secondary and corners at WMU.
In 2010, Campbell’s first year at Western Michigan, the Broncos had a pair of defensive backs rank in a tie for 15th in the country in interceptions. Mario Armstrong and Lewis Toler had five apiece. Toler, who was named Freshman All-America by Rivals.com, ranked second in the MAC with five interceptions, also had three fumble recoveries.
Prior to his time at Western Michigan, Campbell was an assistant at Lane College (2008-09) in Jackson, Tenn., where he served as the defensive backs coach and assisted with special teams. From 2007-08, he was an assistant at Riverview High School in his hometown of Sarasota, Fla.
Campbell resigned from his position of defensive backs coach at Ferris State in February of 2005 to help take care of his mother who had suffered a stroke. Prior to his stint at Ferris State, he was an assistant at Urbana University in Ohio from June of 2002 to March of 2004. At Urbana, he also served as an admissions counselor and multicultural student specialist.
A standout defensive back at Michigan State University, Campbell suffered a cervic-spinal injury against Oregon just two games into the 1998 season. He had started all but one game for the Spartans from 1996 until his injury in 1998. Miraculously, Campbell battled back from injury to play in the 1999 season, earning All-American and All-Big Ten honors. He capped off his remarkable career in the Citrus Bowl. During his collegiate career, he recorded 104 total tackles, five interceptions, three sacks, and 15 TFLs.
He and his wife Shirley are the parents of Onykea, Kiera, Kiarra, Anthony and twins Jordan and Jaden.
