Williams Woods football names new head coach
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The William Woods University football team has a new leader.
On Monday, the athletic department announced that Sam Camp, who served as the Owls' offensive coordinator in the team's inaugural season, has been elevated to head coach.
William Woods went 1-10 in its first year as a program, with the team's first-ever win coming against Westminster College in Sept. In that debut season in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, Camp's offense found some success, specifically with star wide receiver Troy Oliver. Camp coached Oliver to an all-conference season, where he was second in the conference in receiving yards per game and third in touchdown receptions.
Under Camp's leadership, the Owl offense totaled 2,360 yards in 2024, including 2,143 passing yards.
"The opportunity to build the history and legacy of a college football program is special to me. I’m humbled to be a part of doing that at a place with storied success in so many other programs on campus," Camp said in a press release. I’m excited to continue working this spring to develop the young men in our program with the rest of the coaching staff. Go Owls!”
Before he came to William Woods for the 2024 season, Camp spent time coaching at New Mexico University, an NCAA Division II program. He was also an offensive coordinator for the Lobos. In his time down south, his offenses averaged about 258 yards passing per game, which led the Lone Star Conference.
Camp has worn just about every hat in a program. He's also served as a wide receivers coach, tight ends coach, pass game coordinator, recruiting coordinator and video coordinator in his career.
He's even made the jump up to the Division I level, when he was a defensive quality control coach at Army in West Point, New York, after his team with New Mexico University. In that role, he helped develop defensive game plans based on opponents' projected schemes. In that season, the Black Knights ended up ranked 44th in total defense among 130 FBS schools and 33rd in scoring defense, allowing just about 22 points per game.
Camp went to college at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas, where he was a four-year letter-winner for the Falcons. He earned All-Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference honors twice as a wide receiver, finishing his career with 1,242 yards and 100 career receptions, along with six touchdowns.
“Sam’s coaching style and demeanor give us a high level of continuity, and we will be an organized, disciplined and detail-oriented football program under his leadership," WWU Vice President and Director of Athletics Steve Wilson said in a press release, on Monday.
