New Bears coach likes to get in the trenches
CONWAY — Steve Campbell had just wrapped up his first preseason practice as head coach at the University of Central Arkansas, but he still had some work to do.
On an unseasonably cool day for early August, Campbell led a group of about 15 offensive linemen from a practice field west of Estes Stadium to a patch of grass on the west side of the indoor facility. There, led by Campbell, the linemen spent about 10 minutes running sprints to cap the season’s first workout.
The individual instruction has been a part of Campbell’s daily routine since practice began. He may be the head coach, but he also doubles as the team’s offensive line coach.
“It really keeps you knowing where the heartbeat of the football team is,” said Campbell, who was a center at Southeastern Louisiana and Troy State in the 1980s.
Campbell was hired in December from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College to replace Clint Conque, who in his 14 seasons in Conway led the Bears through their transition from NCAA Division II to the Football Championship Subdivision and into the Southland Conference, where he won a share of the 2011 title and twice reached the FCS playoffs.
Faced with the task of continuing a solid program built by Conque — the Bears were 105-59 in 14 seasons under Conque — Campbell tackled the transition the only way he knew how: Head on.
Rather than hire an offensive line coach and delegate responsibilities, Campbell has continued coaching the position he always has. It’s rare for a head coach to tutor one of the lines, but Campbell said it’s allowed him to get closer to his team a bit faster and familiarize himself with the defensive line while the two groups compete in practice.
“I want to stay involved,” Campbell said. “I wouldn’t know what to do if I stood back and watched from the tower. I don’t know how to do that. We do what we know how to do.”
Senior tackle Cole Caruthers, a second-team All-Southland pick last year, will anchor an offensive line that returns three starters and said having the head coach lead his position group makes meetings and practice a bit more serious.
“The head man is obviously our coach, so it’s going to be right,” Caruthers said. “I’ve never been around anybody who loves the game more than he does and is more passionate about it.”
The transition has been smooth at other positions, too.
Nathan Brown was retained from Conque’s staff and serves as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. The former Bears quarterback has kept the offense largely the same, but they’ll go faster and be more dedicated to the run.
Injuries altered UCA’s season more than anything last season when nine players suffered season-ending ailments. Among that group was quarterback Wynrick Smothers and two running backs, but Caruthers said the Bears won’t be held to a Southland-low 3.5 yards per carry this season.
“We plan on running the heck out of the ball,” he said.
The Bears return six defensive starters, including cornerback Dominque Brown, who missed all but two games with a torn ACL, and new coordinator Greg Stewart has switched from a 4-3 to a 3-4.