BUIES CREEK, N.C. — Campbell head football coach Dale Steele has added Wally Ake and Bryan Butterworth to his coaching staff for the 2012-13 season.

Ake will serve as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Campbell after spending three season as secondary and linebackers coach at Liberty (2009-11). Last season the Flames were among the defensive leaders in the Big South Conference in numerous categories. Liberty had the top scoring defense in the conference (22.0) and ranked first in pass defense efficiency (119.7). The program ranked second in total defense (343.3), tied for second in interceptions (12) (plus had a pair of interception return touchdowns), third in rush defense (144.4) and pass defense (198.9) plus tied for third in fumbles recovered (9). The Flames had a pair of players that ranked tied for third in interceptions in the league in Kevin Fogg and Walt Aikens. Aikens, who was a defensive back, also led the conference with three forced fumbles.

"We are excited to have Wally Ake join the coaching staff as the defensive coordinator," Coach Steele explained. "Wally brings with him a tremendous amount of experience over the years at a variety of institutions where academics are important such as Rice and the U.S. Military Academy. He brings a wealth of experience to our situation here and he fits in very well with the rest of our staff."

Ake, who is a veteran of 33 years as a collegiate coach at nine different institutions, came to Liberty from Army. While at Army he served as secondary coach for the Black Knights for five years (2004-08).

Prior to his days at Army, Ake worked for three years at Western Michigan (2001-03), as a defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator. During the 2002 campaign, Ake's secondary picked off 14 passes, helping the Broncos finish second in the Mid-American Conference in pass defense. In 2001, Western Michigan ranked No. 17 nationally in pass defense.

Prior to his time in Kalamazoo, Mich., Ake was the defensive coordinator for Maryland (1997-2000). While overseeing the Maryland defenders, Ake saw the Terrapins rank as the No. 12 most improved defense in 1998, No. 13 in scoring defense and No. 14 in improved passing defense. Nine of his Maryland players went on to NFL careers.

Ake's first defensive coordinator position came at Rice, where he oversaw the Owls for three seasons (1994-96). Rice ranked No. 25 nationally in four different defensive categories in 1994, helping the Owls share the Southwestern Conference title.

Prior to his first defensive coordinator role, Ake coached linebackers and defensive lineman for more than a decade. He coached the linebackers at Clemson for four years (1990-03), the defensive line at Arkansas for six years (1984-89) and for three years at Air Force (1981-83). His defense at Clemson was the top ranked defense in the country in 1990 and the country's best rush defense in 1991.

While at Arkansas, his defenders finished two different campaigns ranked in the top 10 nationally in rushing defense and aided the Razorback to six consecutive postseason bowl berths.

He had his first stint at Arkansas working with the tight ends in 1980. Prior to his time with the Razorbacks he started his collegiate career working with the linebackers at his alma mater, William & Mary (1979).

Ake began his coaching career with seven years at Falls Church High School in his hometown, including six years (1972-77) as the Jaguars' defensive coordinator and his last (1978) as the program's head coach.

Ake has had the opportunity to coach in 12 collegiate bowl games in his career. Among his bowl games are at Citrus Bowl (1992), Cotton Bowl (1989 and 1987), Hall of Fame Bowl (1980, 1982 and 1991), Holiday Bowl (1985), Independence Bowl (1983), Liberty Bowl (1984 and 1987), and the Orange Bowl (1987).

While earning his bachelor's degree in physical education and recreation from William & Mary, Ake helped the Tribe to the 1970 Southern Conference title and the Tangerine Bowl, while earning All-Southern Conference honors as a linebacker.

He and his wife, Chris, have one son, Aaron. Aaron and his wife, Wendy, have three children Vlad, Dmitri and Mila.

Butterworth, who will fill the role of secondary coach and will work with the safeties, comes to Campbell after most recently working at UMass as the secondary coach for the last five years.  He worked with the team's corners in 2011 in one of the toughest Football Championship Subdivision conference in the country. The Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) was able to place five teams in the NCAA playoffs this past season. Butterworth coached the UMass corners this past season in a base 3-4 scheme. He was also responsible for running the position's daily meeting as well as practice prep for the cornerbacks. He also acted as the sideline caller for all the defensive signals during 2011. Freshman cornerback Kirkland Nelms was selected to both the CAA and the Sports Network FCS National Rookie of the Week list (9/19/11). The Minutemen ranked sixth in the CAA in total defense (365.5), total defense (208.9) and sixth in interceptions (13) in 2011. The program also placed fifth in the pass defense efficiency (124.6).

"Bryan Butterworth is someone that I have known about for a few years," Coach Steele explained. "When I first met him I was bowled over by his enthusiasm. He is young and energetic with a lot of experience at the FCS level. Bryan has done a tremendous job of coaching and improving the players he has worked with at this level. We are just excited to have he and his family come and be a part of our family here at Campbell."  

From 2008-10, Butterworth Coached the safeties at UMass. He again was responsible for running the daily position meetings and aided the secondary finish 39th nationally in 2010. Two of the safeties he coached during his three years at the position were First Team All-CAA honorees. When he first arrived at UMass during the 2007, his position was Graduate Assistant for defense. He worked directly with the program's head coach, Don Brown, to coach a secondary that finished 34th nationally. He also assisted with the four special team units (kickoff, punt, punt return and field goal block).

As a player, Butterworth played two years at Canisius in Buffalo, New York and two years at Sacred Heart in Fairfield, Connecticut. At SHU, he was a two-time NEC All-Academic Selection and a member of the NCAA Student-Athlete Academic Council. As a receiver he led the Pioneers with 36 catches for 403 yards as a senior in 2005.

Butterworth, a Scituate, Massachusetts native, graduated Cum Laude from Sacred Heart in 2005 with his degree in business. He and his wife, Jackie, reside in Fuquay-Varina

Ake and Butterworth join Oscar Olejniczak, Landon Mariani, Nick Cavallo, Andre Fontenette, Chris Chestnut, Duncan McLaurin and Will Phillippi on the Campbell coaching staff.

Ake replaces former Campbell coach Art Link, while Butterworth takes the place of retiring coach Greg Williams.

"We are pleased to have a complete staff now in place," Coach Steele stated. "Change naturally occurs often in coaching profession and I feel we replaced the two coaches lost with two quality and talented individuals. The two new defensive coaches will help bring a different enthusiasm and flavor to what we anticipate doing this season.  We feel like we have a great coaching staff in place to help our football program continue to build and move forward in the seasons to come."

The alignment for the football staff goes as follows for the 2012-13 season:

Campbell Coaching Staff