Campbell steps down from Arapahoe after 22 seasons

Mike Campbell grew up in Littleton. He starred on the line for Arapahoe in the late 1980s. And he has been coaching the Warriors for 22 years, first as an assistant and then the last 15 as head coach.

But even homespun fairy tales must come to an end at some point, as Campbell — one of Class 5A’s longest tenured coaches — has officially resigned.

“Really, it just comes down to the fact that 15 years is a long time to be the head coach at one place,” Campbell said. “I’m not sure what’s next for me — maybe a head coach at a smaller school, maybe an assistant at another 5A school, or maybe some time off — but I just knew after this season that it was time for me to go.”

The Warriors were 3-7 this season under Campbell, who amassed a 90-68 career record while guiding the program through ebbs and flows as Arapahoe scrapped to remain competitive in a shifting big-school football landscape.

“I think 5A football, in general, has undergone se- rious changes in the last five years as it’s become very clear that unless you’re at a handful of schools — some would say it’s four schools, some eight — you really have no chance to compete for a state championship,” Campbell said.

But Campbell said even the struggles of the past couple of seasons haven’t diluted the gratefulness he feels toward a school and community he was raised in.

“The greatest reward of this job has been the relationships I’ve gained from it, and seeing the life suc- cesses of players who have come through the program,” Campbell said. “Even these past couple years, when the wins have come a little harder, that part of it never faded.”

Defensive coordinator Eric Riordan and quarterbacks coach Jesse Craig are expected to be in contention to replace Campbell, in addition to a handful of external candidates.

The Arapahoe job is the fifth big-school coaching gig to come open this winter, along with vacancies at Valor Christian, Eaglecrest, Smoky Hill and Highlands Ranch.