MADISON, Wis. — LaMar "Soup" Campbell has been named Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Engagement at the University of Wisconsin, Senior Associate AD for Student Services Doug Tiedt announced on Friday. Campbell, who has worked for UW Athletics since August, 2015 as the Big Ten Minority Intern in the Office of Student Athlete Development, began his new role on Oct. 3.
"We are enthusiastic to have someone of Soup's caliber continue his career with the Badger family," Tiedt said. "As a former student-athlete and an NFL alum having extensive community involvement and previous professional experience working with athlete life transitions, Soup brings a perspective and skill set that will deepen and enrich the student-athlete experience."
In this role, Campbell is charged with creating and coordinating the Student-Athlete Engagement Department along with creating student-athlete development programming with the Office of Student Athlete Development. He will be developing programming that encourages and supports student-athlete participation in campus, community and athletic initiatives. His duties will also include assisting and collaborating with the Director of Diversity and Inclusion on programming and diversity related matters. Additionally, Campbell will work with incoming student-athletes, their parents, legal guardians, and other individuals influential in the student-athletes' lives to enhance their transition into and out of intercollegiate athletics and ignite high quality professional and personal student-athlete growth.
"I am excited to be back at my alma mater with my Badger family and I am truly looking forward to the opportunity to bring my experience as a student-athlete and professional into a first-class athletic department," Campbell said. "As we continue to enhance our student-athletes' lives and articulate that you are a Badger forever it's an amazing feeling to be living proof of that commitment."
In his new role as Assistant AD for Student-Athlete Engagement, LaMar "Soup" Campbell (middle) will continue working with the Office of Student-Athlete Development on creating programming that encourages and supports participation in campus, community and athletic initiatives.
Prior to returning to Wisconsin, Campbell spent nearly seven years as founder and managing partner of Life After The Game Consulting based in Atlanta. In that time, the business collaborated with the NCAA, NFL, NBA and MLB in social media training, personal brand management and career transition initiatives. Campbell also served as the Director of Media Relations for the NFLPA-Atlanta Chapter where he was a frequent contributor and produced Op-Ed content for CNN, HLN and NFL Player Engagement websites on post-competition transition. He was also the creator and producer of "Life After The Game" that aired on Voice of America Sports focusing on topics relevant to transitioning athletes and partnered with former Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher, accompanying him to present on Capitol Hill on the importance of mental health awareness and initiatives concerning student-athletes.
Campbell is a former football student-athlete at the University of Wisconsin where he was a four-year letterwinner for the Badgers. He signed as a free agent with the Detroit Lions following his senior year and spent eight seasons with the organization as a player and scout. At the national and community level, Campbell has participated in the NCAA Emerging Leaders Summit and is a member of NACDA and the N4A where he serves on the Ethnic Concerns Committee. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the YMCA of Dane County.
