Damien Adams begins his 11th season on staff at Campbell in 2023.
Adams, who serves as Campbell's general manager and transfer personnel specialist, will continue to coach the Fighting Camel defensive line. He was named defensive run game coordinator following the 2018 season, and served as CU's co-defensive coordinator in 2022.
Over 10 seasons in Buies Creek, CU defensive linemen have been named all-conference 15 times.
In 2021 Adams coached defensive end and future Los Angeles Chargers signee Brevin Allen to an All-American season. The 2021 Big South Defensive Player of the Year, Allen was also named a finalist for the Stats Perform FCS Buck Buchanan Award, given to the national defensive player of the year, leading the Big South in sacks (9.5) and tackles for loss (17.5), ranking in the top-20 nationally in both categories.
Allen set the Campbell single season record for sacks, while tying the program single season mark in stops for loss, standing as one of 10 Big South defenders with two or more forced fumbles on the year, adding 44 total tackles with a fumble recovery, a pass breakup and six hurries.
As a whole, the CU defense ranked fourth in the FCS in turnovers gained (25) and defensive touchdowns (4) at season's end.
Despite playing all FBS opponents in an abbreviated, four-game 2020 slate, the Camels owned the No. 2 pass defense among FCS programs. Following the shortened year, defensive end Brevin Allen was again named All-Big South.
The Camels put up the Big South’s top pass defense in both 2018 and 2019, allowing only 182.7 yards per game in 2019, while the all-conference duo of Brevin Allen and Damien Dozier bookended the line with a combined 16.5 tackles for loss.
Allen totaled 11.0 tackles for loss on the season, also collecting Big South Defensive Player of the Week honors after posting 3.5 tackles for loss, including 1.0 sack to go along with eight tackles in a win over Presbyterian. Dozier, meanwhile, was named Second Team All-Big South for the second straight season, ranking sixth in the league in tackles per game by a lineman (0.51), and highlighting his season with a 15 tackle performance, a CU record for a defensive lineman, in a win over Davidson.
With Adams' assistance, the Campbell defense led the FCS in fewest passing yards allowed in 2018, surrendering just 122.5 per game, while posting the seventh best pass efficiency defense (103.27). The Camels also ranked 15th in red zone defense (.724), 25th in scoring defense (22.0 points per game) and 25th in total defense (335.4 yards per game).
Damien Dozier was also named Second Team All-Big South, leading the conference in tackles for loss (11.5), while ranking third in sacks (3.5) and standing fourth in tackles by a defensive lineman. He was one of six Big South players to force two fumbles in 2018, and recorded at least one tackle for loss six times.
In Campbell's final four seasons in the Pioneer Football League, Adams helped the Camels pile up 104 sacks and 281 total tackles for loss, the best in the conference. In 2017, CU's final year in the PFL, Emmanuel Olenga was tabbed first team all-league.
In 2015, Adams' front line helped the CU defense rank fifth in the nation in total defense, holding opponents to just 279.3 yards per game. Among FCS programs, Campbell also stood 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).
Greg Milhouse and Ugonna Awuruonye both garnered First Team All-PFL accolades, while Rogers Clark was named to the honorable mention list.
Following the season, Milhouse, along with long snapper Danny Dillon, became the first Camels to sign with NFL franchises. Milhouse inked a contract with the New York Giants, while Dillon signed with the Arizona Cardinals.
The Camels again ranked among the nation's top-20 defenses in 2016, standing 17th, allowing only 322.1 yards per game. For the fourth time in three years, a member of the CU defensive line was named First Team All-PFL (Syd Holt).
Both Ugonna Awuruonye and Greg Milhouse were named All-PFL in 2014, with Awuruonye taking first and Milhouse earning second team honors. Isaac Scott was also named an All-PFL honorable mention.
Additionally, Lucas Smith earned First Team Academic All-PFL honors, in addition to CoSIDA Academic All-District and FCS Athletic Directors Association Academic All-Star Team accolades.
Awuruonye tied the CU single season sacks record at 7.5 and recorded double digit tackles for loss for the second year in a row, while Yost came just three tackles from the single season stops mark.
In 2013, his first season at CU, Adams helped the Camel defense to improvements in total offense, points per game, rushing yards per game and passing yards per game. Those strides included improvements of 62.3 yards of total offense and 54.7 yards rushing fewer per game. The team also set a new record for sacks with 27 on the year.
Awuruonye was also named honorable mention All-PFL.
Awuruonye tallied a school record for most yards from tackles for loss (83) and picked up the second most tackles for loss (14.0) and sacks (7.0) in a single season despite only playing in eight games. The redshirt sophomore led the PFL in tackle for loss and stops by a defensive lineman, while ranking eighth in sacks in conference games.
Adams came to CU after serving in the same capacity at nearby Fayetteville State University, his alma mater, for five seasons.
Under his direction, the FSU defensive line has routinely become one of the top units in the CIAA. During his first season with the Broncos, FSU defensive linemen accounted for 11.5 sacks and the Broncos' defense allowed only 885 yards rushing in 10 games.
In 2011, Adams coached Darius Powell, a second team All-CIAA selection and Jamaal Dixon, an All-Rookie team pick. Adams' unit amassed 21.5 sacks, 43.5 tackles for loss and was a part of a FSU defense that held opponents to 12 points or less five times.
In fact, the Broncos were first in the NCAA's Division II in total sacks in 2009 and ranked fourth in tackles for loss.
A 2003 graduate of FSU, Adams was a captain on FSU's 2002 and 2003 CIAA Championship squads and was named to the All-CIAA team in his final three seasons, 2001-03, at FSU. Adams was inducted into the Fayetteville State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021.
Adams received his Bachelor's Degree in Geography and, soon after graduation, became head football coach at Benson Middle School in Benson, N.C. In his three years at the helm, he led Benson to a 14-7 record.
After his stint at Benson, Adams became an assistant coach in charge of the defensive line at South Johnston High School. Adams helped lead South Johnston to a 10-2 record and a Cape Fear Valley Conference Championship.
Adams is married to Teneisha Parker of Tarboro, N.C. and they have two sons, Bryce and Chase.
