BJ Campbell

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Assistant Coach - Defensive Coordinator | 4th Season

BJ Campbell enters his sixth season as the defensive coordinator for the Mules in 2022 after arriving in March of 2019.

Last season, Campbell coached All-MIAA Second Team defensive back Codie Bell and defensive lineman Chima Dunga, and honorable mention honorees Deven Smith (linebacker) and Zack Aschemann (defensive lineman).

Bell led the Mules with 90 total tackles, including 64 solo and 26 assisted. He compiled four tackles-for-loss for 19 yards, two interceptions, six pass break-ups and a forced-fumbled. His total tackles ranked third in the MIAA in 2021.

In his first season at the UCM in 2019, Campbell's unit saw big improvements, especially on the number of impact plays. The Mules more than doubled their sack total from the year prior and set a new single-season record with 39. They also nearly doubled their interceptions and finished with 20 total turnovers. 

Two Mule defenders made the All-MIAA First Team. Ubong Udom led the league recording 10 sacks, tying for the fourth most in a single-season in team history. He also forced four fumbles which shared the league lead. Joining Udom on the First Team was linebacker Kolesen Crane. Crane became the first Mule to make the All-MIAA First Team since 2007. Crane totaled 8.5 tackles for loss to go along with four interceptions, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. Campbell had All-MIAA performers at all three levels of his defense. In addition to Udom, Jacob Wiggins was All-MIAA Honorable Mention along the defensive line, John Embrey and Deven Smith joined Crane as All-MIAA linebackers by earning honorable mention and Codie Bell was an All-MIAA Second Team defensive back. 

Campbell came to Warrensburg after spending the previous six seasons as the Defensive Coordinator at Montana Tech in Butte, Mont. where he was also the Associate Head Coach for the 2018 season.

The Orediggers had a 35-29 record since Campbell took over as the D-Coordinator in 2013. The last five years of Campbell's tenure, the Orediggers had one of the best defenses in NAIA Division I which led them to back-to-back NAIA postseason appearances in 2015 and 2016.

In Campbell's first season as Defensive Coordinator, the Montana Tech Defense ranked seventh in the country in quarterback sacks, averaging 3.3 per game and 33 total on the season. At the end of the 2013 season, they were in the top three in the Frontier Conference in six different categories: scoring defense, total defense per game, pass defense per game, sacks, opponent first downs and opponent third down conversion.

The 2015 season saw the Orediggers go 10-2 as the defense finished ranked in the top 25 in seven different defensive categories. Campbell's defenses were stifling on fourth downs and finished ranked first in the country in fourth down conversion percentage. The multiple style of defense that Campbell implemented allowed 13 different defenders to register sacks. The havoc causing defense registered 40 total sacks, ranking fourth nationally. The 2015 defense finished the season ranked 12th in scoring defense, 13th in opponent third down conversion percentage, 15th in total defense per game, 16th in total pass defense and 21st in rushing defense per game.

Another 10-2 season in 2016 had the Orediggers at the top of the Frontier Conference in five defensive categories and second in three. Nationally, Campbell's defense was ranked in the top 25 in eight different categories: fifth in opponent completion percentage (.489), eighth in rushing TD's allowed (10 allowed), tenth in total sacks (33 on the season), 11th in scoring defense (19.2 pts/game), 13th in rushing defense (124.5 yards/game), 15th in pass defense efficiency (109.3), 22nd in opponent third down conversion percentage and 24th in total defense. After the 2016 season, six defensive players were selected All-Conference led by senior safety Gunnar Kayser. Kayser was a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award as well as selected second team AFCA All-America and the Defensive Player of the Year for the Frontier Conference.

In 2017, the Oredigger defense had four All-Conference selections headlined by Connor Wines who led the league with 10 sacks. The Diggers ranked first in the Frontier and 12th in the NAIA in opponent third down conversions. Tech ranked 20th in the nation in total sacks. The impressive numbers kept piling up in 2018 as the Diggers were sixth in the nation in opponents fourth-down conversion percentage (28.6%), and 14th in opponent first downs (184) and had three named to the All-Frontier Conference team.

In each year Campbell directed the linebacking corps, he has coached at least one All-Conference performer. He was also instrumental in developing and mentoring Montana Tech linebacker Ryan Jones who was signed by the NFL's Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent after the 2013 NFL Draft. Under his leadership, Campbell has guided 6 linebackers to All-Conference, including David Meis who in 2015, was selected to the first team and was also named second team AFCA All-America. 

Prior to Montana Tech, Campbell spent two seasons at the University of South Dakota coaching outside linebackers with a brief stint working with the running backs and fullbacks. Campbell was involved in coaching the special teams working with kickers and punters. In Campbell's last season at USD, he was a member of the coaching staff that defeated the University of Minnesota in the school's first ever win over a BCS opponent.
 
Campbell went to USD after a four-year playing career at Wayne State College in Wayne, Neb.. As a standout defensive back, Campbell played a key role in WSC's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2008. Campbell started all 12 games and had 37 tackles, three interceptions and four pass breakups to earn All-NSIC South Division honors. In 2007, Campbell had 18 assisted tackles, 22 assists and a team-high five interceptions. In his collegiate career, Campbell registered 50 solo tackles and 38 assists along with eight interceptions.

A certified strength and conditioning specialist through NSCA, Campbell earned his bachelor's degree from Wayne State in 2008.  Campbell earned his masters of arts in Exercise Science and Athletic Administration from the University of South Dakota.

Campbell resides in Warrensburg with his wife, Brandi Jensen-Campbell and their two children, son Jaylon, and daughter Kiera.