Former Carolina Panthers standout and Nebraska Football Hall of Famer Mike Minter is in his 11th season as head football coach at Campbell University in 2023.
Over the last 11 seasons, Campbell has reset nearly every record in the school’s books. Camels have been named all-conference 95 times, with nine All-Americans.
Following the 2022 season, a school record 12 Camels were named to Big South all-conference teams, while eight earned Academic All-District honors from the College Sports Communicators, yet another program record.
First Team All-Big South performers Mike Edwards, an offensive tackle, and long snapper Jackson Hayes also earned All-America honors from multiple publications, while defensive back Myles Rowser picked up Freshman All-America accolades.
Campbell also set a school passing yards record (2,915) for the second straight season, on top of hauling in the top recruiting class in the FCS for the second consecutive year.
Minter led the Camels to three consecutive winning seasons from 2017-19, a modern era program first (since 2008). During the team’s historic six game winning streak in 2019, Campbell received top-25 votes for five straight weeks, another program first.
Nine Camels took Big South postseason honors in 2019, led by Offensive Freshman of the Year quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams, and offensive lineman Jacob Cuddington, linebacker Justice Galloway-Velazquez and defensive back Darion Slade all earning first team all-conference nods. Additionally, two Camels claimed All-America honors, with Williams being named First Team HERO Sports Freshman All-American, while Galloway-Velazquez was tabbed honorable mention Sophomore All-America.
The Camels played an abbreviated four-game, all-FBS schedule in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, taking on Georgia Southern, Coastal Carolina, Appalachian State and Wake Forest. Among the milestones set during the 21-day, four game season, Campbell received unprecedented national attention with three nationally televised games, including a Friday night matchup at Coastal Carolina on ESPN.
Following the Camels’ near-upset at Georgia Southern to open 2020, CU earned Stats Perform FCS Team of the Week honors, while QB Hajj-Malik Williams was named the FCS Player of the Week.
The CU defense again impressed in spite of the tough schedule, ranking No. 2 among FCS programs in pass defense in the fall.
Despite not participating in the spring of 2021, four Camels were named to All-Big South teams, including defensive lineman Brevin Allen, tight end Julian Hill, offensive lineman Tyler McLellan and defensive back Darion Slade, all tabbed second team all-conference.
In 2021, Minter coached three FCS All-Americans, including Big South Defensive Player of the Year Brevin Allen, who posted a record-setting season, as well as wide receiver Caleb Snead, who finished his CU career as the program’s all-time leading receiver. Rookie linebacker CJ Tillman was also named Freshman All-America.
Allen headlined six Camels on the league's 2021 all-conference teams, joined by Snead, tight end Julian Hill and offensive tackle Tyler McLellan as First Team All-Big South honorees, while defensive back Darion Slade and kick returner Josh McNeely were tabbed second team all-conference.
Defensively, Campbell ranked fourth in the FCS in turnovers gained (25) and defensive touchdowns (4) at season's end. On the offensive side, the Camels led the Big South in passing offense at 261.6 yards per game, ranking 22nd in the FCS, setting a school record for passing yards (2,901) and passing touchdowns (24) this season.
Following the 2021 season, Campbell compiled the top recruiting class in the FCS through the December early signing period, inking three of the top-10 ranked recruits in the subdivision.
Minter led the Camels through a successful transition to the Big South Conference in 2018, their first season as a scholarship program. Campbell finished 2018 at 6-5 overall and 1-4 in its inaugural Big South season.
For the third straight season, Campbell broke its overall attendance record (35,405) in 2018, while resetting Barker-Lane Stadium’s single-game mark with 6,712 for its Homecoming tilt vs. Gardner-Webb.
In addition, seven Camels were named to All-Big South teams, with freshman wide receiver Caleb Snead and redshirt junior punter Brad Dennis headlining the league's first team. Snead was also named First Team Freshman All-America, the Camels' second straight season with a freshman All-America selection.
The Camels led the FCS in fewest passing yards allowed per game (122.5), while ranking 25th in total defense (335.4 yards per game). CU also ranked in the FCS' top-10 in fewest sacks allowed (0.82 per game), finishing the year sixth.
Campbell finished 2017 6-5 overall and 5-3 in PFL play, matching the program's best overall and conference records in its 10 year history. The Camels also set a record for road wins (3).
Ten Camels earned All-PFL recognition, with safety Carolos Merritt and defensive end Emmanuel Olenga taking First Team nods. Quarterback Daniel Smith, wide receiver Aaron Blockmon and offensive tackle Shuler Littleton were also tabbed Second Team All-PFL, while five others were named honorable mention All-PFL.
Smith was named the PFL's Offensive Freshman of the Year, and was a finalist for the STATS Jerry Rice Award for FCS freshman player of the year, finishing fourth in the final voting. Smith finished the 2017 regular season with the fourth-most rushing yards in the country, with his 1,272 yards on the ground leading all FCS freshmen and quarterbacks. Smith set Campbell single-season records for rushing yards, total offense (3,161), all-purpose yards (1,272) and touchdowns responsible for (30). After just one season, Smith is already Campbell's career leader in touchdown passes with 18.
The Camels set 16 team single-season school records in 2017, plus 19 individual single-season marks on the way to their historic season. Additionally, CU set Barker-Lane Stadium records for average, total and single-game attendance for the second straight season.
In Minter's fourth season at the helm, Campbell went 5-5 on the year, notching the program's second season at .500 or better in its nine year history, and ranked third in the PFL in rushing offense, standing 19th nationally at 209 yards per game, as well as 17th in the country in total defense (322.1 yards per game). Sophomore wide receiver Aaron Blockmon also led the PFL in receiving yards (1,038) and touchdowns (10), headlining a group of 11 Camels that earned all-conference accolades.
The Camels ranked fifth in the nation in total defense in 2015 (279.3 per game), standing third in team sacks per game (3.55) and ninth in scoring defense (17.7). The team shattered program records for all three categories, adding single season marks for tackles for loss (85.0) and total sacks (38.0).
16 Camels were honored on the conference's All-PFL teams following the 2015 season, with junior running back De'Shawn Jones, redshirt senior defensive lineman Ugonna Awuruonye and senior defensive lineman Greg Milhouse Jr. all receiving First Team All-PFL accolades.
The PFL 2015 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year went to Campbell's Jack Ryan. Four Camels were also named to the 2015 Academic All-PFL teams.
The offseason saw another Campbell first, with defensive tackle Greg Milhouse Jr. (New York Giants) and long snapper Danny Dillon (Arizona Cardinals) both signing NFL contracts.
2014 saw the Camels notch their second-most total and conference wins at 5-7 overall and 4-4 in PFL play. A school record seven Camels, plus eight honorable mentions, were named to the 2014 All-Pioneer Football League teams, including four first teamers. Eight CU student-athletes, with six first team members, were tabbed PFL All-Academic.
In Minter's first season as head coach at CU, the Camels set 21 offensive team records, including rushing yards (2,800), passing yards (2,436), and total offense (5,236). The Camels also established four defensive marks, including sacks (27), and posted three team records on special teams.
Senior Kurt Odom became Campbell's first football All-America selection, earning Third Team honors from the Sports Network. Odom was also named First Team All-PFL while seven Camels took home honorable mention nods.
In May 2014, CU quarterback Brian Hudson signed a contract with the Canadian Football League's Calgary Stampeders.
The quarterback from Stafford, Va. played his lone season at Campbell in 2013 after transferring from Liberty. Hudson set Campbell single-season records for rushing yards, rushing attempts, pass completions, passing yards, passing touchdowns, passing yards per game, total offense and all-purpose yards, earning Honorable Mention All-PFL accolades.
Minter picked up his first win as a collegiate head coach in his home debut as the Camels cruised to a 56-21 triumph over UVA-Wise.
Minter, a member of two national championship teams at Nebraska and the Panthers’ 2003 Super Bowl squad, joined the Fighting Camel program after serving as assistant coach at Liberty University in 2012 and Johnson C. Smith University in 2011. He also brought head coaching experience from First Assembly Christian School in Concord, where he guided his teams to 33 victories and two state titles in three seasons.
During his 10-year NFL career, Minter earned a starting safety role six games into his rookie year in 1997, and held that position until he retired after the 2006 season. A second-round draft choice, he helped lead the Panthers to three playoff trips, the 2003 NFC Championship and a berth in Super Bowl XXXVII.
In the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots, Minter suffered a broken left foot in the third quarter, but remained in the game and collected a career-high 18 tackles. At the time of his retirement, he held Panthers franchise records for starts (141), consecutive starts (94), fumble recoveries (11) and interceptions returned for touchdowns (4). In 2019, Minter was named to the Panthers' Silver Season Team, recognizing the best players from each position in the team's 25 years of play.
At Liberty, Minter worked as special teams coordinator/assistant defensive coach under head coach Turner Gill. He mentored three 2012 Big South all-conference performers in long snapper Richard Wright, place kicker John Lunsford and punter Grant Bowden.
Liberty finished the regular season ranked No. 4 in the country in kickoff return yardage defense, allowing only 14.04 yards per return. The Flames also finished 38th nationally in kickoff returns (21.3 yards).
In addition to his on-field coaching responsibilities at Liberty, Minter was involved in many aspects of the Flames operation. He helped run the scout team in practice, served as liaison with the athletic training and weight room staffs, and reviewed team members’ academic achievement weekly with the Associate A.D. for Academic Affairs.
During his time at Johnson C. Smith, Minter helped the Golden Bulls dramatically improve in many phases of the game. Under his guidance as assistant head coach, defensive passing game coordinator and special teams coordinator, JCSU ranked fifth in the nation in punt return yardage in 2011.
The Golden Bulls also finished the season with 24 turnovers caused (which tripled the previous year’s total) and won Pioneer Bowl XIII 35-33 over Miles College for the program’s first-ever bowl victory.
Minter was a two-time national champion at Nebraska (1994 and 1995) where he played linebacker, free safety and strong safety for the Cornhuskers. He was a three-time all-conference performer and was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame in 2006. He graduated in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering.
Born Jan. 15, 1974, in Cleveland, Ohio, Minter led the State of Oklahoma in rushing yards (1,589) as a senior at Lawton High School in 1991. He was an all-state performer, National Honor Society member and also averaged 21 points per game on the Lawton basketball team.
In addition to playing and coaching football, Minter is CEO of Minter Enterprises, a multi-faceted business impacting real estate development, general contracting and construction, business consultation, publishing, public speaking engagements and a non-profit organization focused on youth development.
Minter has four children – Michael Jr., Isaiah, McKenna and Brianna.
