head coach. The team was coached by former U.S. Olympian Cary Kolat from 2016 to 2020. His successor is Scotti Sentes, a two-time All-American for Central Michigan University. In 2017, the team achieved career highs with its first Southern Conference title, five NCAA qualifiers, and the school's first All-American in Nathan Kraisser. Football Campbell announced in April 2006 that the university would be restarting its football program for 2008. The Fighting Camels compete at the NCAA Division I FCS level as a member of the Big South Conference beginning in the 2018 season. Dale Steele was the first head coach of the Camels and coached from the 2008 season to the 2012 season. His best season was the 2011 season in which the Camels finished 6–5. On November 27, 2012, Campbell University announced former University of Nebraska and Carolina Panthers standout, Mike Minter, as their new Head Football Coach. Track and field The team has had eight athletes earn All-America status a total of 23 times: Orville Peterson – Decathlon (1980) Ernie White – Decathlon (1983, 1984) Eric Bergemann – Indoor High Jump (2003) Lawrence Kipkoech – Outdoor 10,000m (2015, 2018, 2019); Indoor 5,000m (2016, 2018); Indoor 10,000m (2016); Outdoor 5,000m (2018) Amon Terer – Indoor 5,000m (2016, 2017); outdoor 10,000m (2016); Indoor 3,000m (2017); Outdoor 5,000m (2017) Amon Kemboi – Indoor 5,000m (2018, 2019); Indoor 3,000m (2019); Outdoor 5,000m (2018) Sabina Allen – Indoor Triple Jump (2018); Outdoor Triple Jump (2018) Athanas Kioko – Outdoor 5,000m (2021) In addition to its track and field All-Americans, Campbell has also had four cross country All-Americans in program history who have totaled eight All-America selections: Amon Terer – 2016 Lawrence Kipkoech – 2016, 2017, 2018 Amon Kemboi – 2017, 2018, 2019 Athanas Kioko – 2019 Traditions Mascot Before 1934 Campbell's athletic teams were known as the "Hornets". Other early known nicknames for the program were simply reflective of the school name, like "Campbells" or "Campbellites". The origin of the name "Fighting Camels" is popularly believed to be derived from a statement by early school patron Zachary Taylor Kivett, who approached school founder James Archibald Campbell after a fire had destroyed the three then existing school buildings in 1900 and said, "Your name's Campbell; then get a hump on you! We've got work to do." Campbell thought Kivett said, "you're a camel, then get a hump on you!" Notable alumni Baseball Scott Jackson