Rowdies Appoint Stuart Campbell Head Coach

The Tampa Bay Rowdies have appointed Stuart Campbell to the position of head coach, effective immediately.

Campbell, 37, has been with the Rowdies since December 27, 2011, originally joining as a player for the 2012 season before transitioning to roles as an assistant coach and now head coach. In his first season with the Rowdies, Campbell played 31 matches as a defensive stalwart, guiding the Rowdies to the NASL Championship.

He served dual roles as a player and assistant coach in 2013, before becoming a full-time assistant coach last season and resuming that role earlier this year.

“I have full confidence in Stuart’s ability to coach this team to victory,” Rowdies principal owner Bill Edwards said. “Stuart has been an integral part of the club since his arrival, and has earned the respect of his players. He will lead with the stability and unity necessary to win.”

Campbell said: "It is a great honor to be named the head coach of the Rowdies. I’d like to thank the Rowdies organization for the opportunity to coach a team that I represented with pride and won a championship with as a player. I look forward to leading the Rowdies to another championship. I would also like to thank the fan base for their support last Saturday night."

Campbell, a native of Corby, England, spent most of his playing career with Bristol Rovers in the United Kingdom, making 288 appearances for the Gas between 2004 and 2011. He was appointed club captain in 2006 and led the team to the quarterfinals of the 2007-2008 FA Cup, the best result in Rovers’ history. In 2011, Campbell was named interim manager of Bristol Rovers with twelve games remaining in the season.

Campbell also played for Leicester City, Birmingham City, and Grimsby Town in his playing career before joining the Rowdies. He also earned 14 caps for the Scottish national team at the Under-21 level.