By GORDON BRUNSKILL
When Larry Campbell took over as the head coach of the Bald Eagle Area girls’ volleyball program, he had some pretty grand — perhaps even outrageous — plans for the Lady Eagles. He wanted to turn a program that had never even won a District 6 playoff match into one that could win of league, district, even state titles.
Some thought his dreams were beyond what was possible.
As it turned out, the Lady Eagles became one of the best in central Pennsylvania, and Campbell is one of the most successful coaches – of any sport – in the area.
That impressive run came to an end on March 10, as the BEA school board accepted his resignation from the coaching position. He leaves the program after 15 seasons, and 21 coaching area high school girls’ teams, with over 300 wins, seven Mountain League crowns, four District 6 titles and the 2018 PIAA Class 2A championship. Campbell cited a greater desire to be a dad as the reason to step away from the Lady Eagle bench.
“I just couldn’t be everywhere at the same time,” he said. “It was too much.”
BEA Athletic Director Doug Dyke said the district would be advertising the open position, and despite the long list of success and stability of the program, he was worried if he could find a successor. He and Campbell both stated, however, that the door is still cracked open should Campbell decide to return years from now.
“If he wants to come back,” Dyke said, “I would take him in any sport he wants to coach.”
Campbell will continue to lead the Affinity club program run at the BEA gymnasium at least into this coming summer; he will be coaching alongside good friend Chad Weight the State College boys’ program, whose season begins March 29; and he will still be teaching health, physical education and driver’s education at BEA.
However, one daughter is a junior at State College and a manager for the girls’ and boys’ programs, another is a freshman member of the Lady Little Lions team, and a son is in eighth grade and hoping to play when he reaches high school. Their father wants to be able to see them all.
“I watched most of her (middle daughter’s) matches on my phone or iPad or the TV while my team was playing,” Campbell said. “That’s tough, especially when everyone else is there watching their kids.”
He has not ruled out assisting Weight with the girls’ program, and if his kids advance to college programs he would continue making the effort to see them compete. Beyond that, anything was possible.
“We actually got one more year out of him than we thought we would,” Dyke said. “But he was just missing too many of his kids’ events.”
Dyke said it was Campbell’s personality and style that helped build the success. BEA would have huge rosters some seasons because none would be cut, but he was up front about playing time and opportunities. Even if parents were not happy with situations, he would not dodge their questions or complaints.
“He’s an outstanding coach,” Dyke said. “He puts as much or more time into it than anybody in the offseason. … The type of coach he is, he works well with the kids and parents, but he also doesn’t put up with anything.”
Even after they are long gone from BEA, team alumni still think so much of him and give hugs whenever they see him.
“Coach is one of my favorite people,” said Regan (Dyke) Goodling, a four-year starting libero and 2017 graduate who has since coached with the Affinity club. “He taught me so much about life and volleyball. The hours our team spent in the gym learning from him are a part of some of my favorite memories. I’m really grateful I had him as a coach and a mentor. I don’t think there is anyone quite like him.”
Campbell’s style resulted in plenty of victories, including a 301-95 record to go with the banners for league, district and state success. Also, from 2014 to 2020, the Lady Eagles won 84 consecutive Mountain League matches, and within that had an overall regular-season win streak of 71.
Those are not what make him feel successful, however.
“Some of the things I’m most proud of have a lot less to do with the winning and losing,” he said. “It’s the difference you make with some kids.
“The wins and losses are cool, and I’m a super competitive person, but the way kids are when they start the program and end the program, they mature so much, that’s what I’m most proud of. The kids want to come back and be a part of what you’re doing.”
Still, when he left Bellefonte after six seasons for that school’s rival, he had big dreams, and during their first day coaching together he shared them with junior varsity coach Danielle Butterworth.
After the Lady Eagles’ state title in 2018, she told him, “When you said that I thought you were nuts. But you really did all that stuff.”
“I said it was because we had a belief and everyone bought in, was on the same page and we had a good time,” he said. “To think (about major goals) is one thing, but to say it out loud is different. It makes you understand what your belief is.”
The success also can be seen in what happens after those young women left BEA. He can’t recall how many alumni played collegiately, but the 2018 PIAA title team alone produced 10 college student-athletes.
When they started as young girls, he gave them an opportunity they didn’t know was possible, with a chance to foster a passion for the game. It’s not something that can be measured on scoreboards or with trophies, but that may be the biggest win.
“Seeing them grow and watch them get better every single day in the gym,” Campbell said. “That’s the part I enjoy so much – getting in there and having fun. That’s the big thing. For us, if we weren’t having fun, we probably weren’t being very successful.”
