Coffee and Cake with Clark Campbell
By Alice McCall
Clark Campbell has history with the Jayhawks at Kansas University. After giving up his eligibility as an NCAA swimmer to be a pro triathlete, he wanted to give back to a field that had given so much to him. Accepting a graduate assistant position at KU after completing his undergraduate degree it was the start of his coaching career; making stops at West Virginia Wesleyan, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Evansville. Campbell shares that swimming has allowed he and his family to love something collectively and he will be forever grateful for the sport.
What makes Kansas University a special place?
It’s my home, I grew up in Coffeyville, KS. I swam here when there was a men’s team for a year before turning pro as a triathlete. Once I was done with my athletic career, the coach at the time offered me an opportunity to be a graduate assistant, so I took that, I then left with the hope of returning and after 9 years I had that opportunity.
What motivated you to join the world of coaching?
Athletics have been a big part of my life, I had a good run as a professional triathlete, and in those days there were no multi-sport coaching, so I learnt a lot about performance and coaching. I found a real passion for coaching and contemplated either swimming or track and the opportunity presented itself here. I wanted to share my knowledge of what to do, and more importantly, what not to do, with others and I’ve been doing it ever since.
What prompted you to serve on the CSCAA Board of Directors?
Being a former athlete I wanted to give back. I’ve been coaching over 20 years, and I’ve been very humbled by the opportunities that this profession has allowed. I was approached by Joel Schinofield (at the time) about serving on the board and it was a slam dunk. 90% of it was the opportunity to give back and provide leadership to our profession.
What is your proudest moment/accomplishment as a part of the CSCAA Board?
Watching Greg take over the leadership role as the Executive Director, Greg is the encyclopedia of college swimming. Seeing the health of our organization now, I cannot be any happier. We have an all-star executive staff working on the behalf of us as college coaches.
What was your most memorable talk at the CSCAA Convention?
There’s been so many good talks along the way, but what really sticks out to me the most was listening to Don Megerle and Tony Lisa when they MC’d our awards banquet. This was going on in the mid-90’s and to see them up there and how much love and passion they had for the sport, for coaching, and the fun that they had with our profession. They really kindled the passion for coaching.
Who have been some of your mentors and why?
Dennis Dale, he was the head men’s coach at the University of Minnesota when I was there as the assistant. Jean Freeman, Joel Schinofield and Greg were there at the time and that was just the heart and soul of swimming then. To see how Dennis and Jean both ran their programs was amazing. To this day, I use something that they taught me on deck at each practice and I’m forever in their debt.
Gary Kempf, he was my college coach and allowed me to start off in this profession and I’ll be forever grateful to him too.
What has been one of your biggest obstacles and how did you overcome it?
I’ve never really viewed anything I’ve had as an obstacle, I view things more as challenges. As coaches we face challenges every single day. I was on the NCAA rules committee in the late 00’s when we were dealing with the suits that are now illegal. That was a total mess. We had really strong leadership in the NCAA during that time and they were able to help guide us through the process in the shadow of the FINA guidelines. We put together some really strong reasonings as to why these suits were illegal. It was a really dark and light moment in our sport and to be a part of that, to see people come together and do what was best for the long term interest of the sport, was really a cool thing to be a part of. It was an obstacle at the time because it was all so new and foreign but we were able to turn it into a challenge.
What is the biggest challenge facing college swimming and diving?
What is this NCAA sport going to look like down the road? Being in college athletics for so long you see things come and go, but what is on the cards for the future is so up in the air. What does the student-athlete model look like? Name Image Likeness ... are they students or employees? There’s just such an unknown out there at the moment, and I think that is the biggest challenge right now.
What’s a fun fact about Clark Campbell?
All three of my children were or are Division I swimmers, so was my wife, so we have all done it at some point. We are so thankful that swimming is available to all three of our children as a means to further their athletic and academic careers. My son is the Graduate Assistant at Georgia Southern and he’s chosen to go down the path of his dad. I think that’s another reason I got involved with the board (CSCAA) is because I have to set a path for my son. My oldest daughter swims at Indiana State, and our youngest swims here at KU. The opportunities and experiences that have been provided to them through college swimming is something that we are so thankful for. Not only do we do it, but we love it, and we live it.