| By Mike Egenes, |
 |
| Dispatch/Argus staff writer |
Andy Campbell has the job he's had his eye on for a long time.
Campbell, one of former Rock Island baseball coach Gary Bender's players during the
1980s, has been hired to fill the position vacated by the retiring Bender, athletic
director Bob Swanson announced Thursday.
Campbell succeeds Bender, who held the post for 15 successful seasons at Rocky
compiling a 328-148 career record and three trips to the state tournament.
The 30-year-old Campbell played for Bender for four seasons before graduating in 1987.
"Whenever you've played at a high school and end up getting into coaching,
somewhere down the line I think you'd always like to coach at your alma mater," he
said. "I feel lucky to have that opportunity."
Campbell inherits a thriving Rocky program. In the past three seasons, the Rocks have
finished third in the Class AA state tournament twice and averaged 25 wins per.
"I just hope to carry on what Gary has left and continue the success that he's
had," Campbell said.
Campbell is in his fifth season as pitching coach at Davenport Assumption High School.
He said he will continue that role for the rest of the season before turning his focus on
the Rocky program.
"My main focus right now is to win the state tournament with Assumption,"
Campbell said. "As soon as that's through, I'll put my nose to the grindstone with
Rock Island."
Swanson said Campbell, a life-long resident of Rock Island, was selected over six other
candidates by a four-member administration panel, including new principal Dawn Snyder and
Swanson. The panel also took input from parents, Rock Island Booster Club and community
representatives.
"Andy was the committee's first choice," Swanson said.
"I'm very excited, very humbled," Campbell said. "I'm very grateful to
be chosen. There were some outstanding applicants."
Other finalists, along with Campbell, were believed to be Iowa State head coach Jim
Murphy, a former Assumption coach; and Rocky assistant Andy Gray, another one of Bender's
former players.
Swanson cited Campbell's variety of coaching experience, ability to work with youth
feeder programs and past successes as the deciding factors in the hire.
"Andy understands the commitment necessary for a head coaching position in a
high-profile program such as Rock Island baseball," Swanson said. "We are
confident he will devote the necessary time and energy to maintain and enhance Rock Island
baseball."
Campbell is a science teacher at Washington Junior High School in Rock Island. He is
also the school's athletic director and eighth-grade football coach. Swanson said Campbell
came "highly recommended" by his principal and every head coach for whom he has
played or coached.
Last spring, Campbell was hired as the varsity pitching coach at Augustana College.
Augie set a single-season record for victories, for which Vikings head coach Greg Wallace
credits Campbell's assistance as a major contributing factor.
Campbell attended Aurora University for two years before transferring to and graduating
from the University of Iowa in 1992. He is the son of former Rock Island Mayor Alan
Campbell.
He assumes the duties at Rocky immediately, which includes assembling his coaching
staff. Campbell said his main coaching philosophy emphasizes the game's simple things.
"We just want to compete every time we step on the field," he said. "If
we do the little things right, good things will happen."
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