BUIES CREEK, North Carolina – Campbell University Athletics Director Bob Roller will report directly to President J. Bradley Creed beginning June 1. This move reflects best practices for NCAA Division 1 schools where less than 5 percent of athletics directors report to someone besides the president, Creed said.
The move also means that Campbell Athletics will fall directly under the president’s office instead of Student Life when it takes effect. Since joining Campbell as athletics director in 2011, Roller has reported to Dr. Dennis Bazemore, the vice president for student life.
“Bob Roller has given his all to make each program within Campbell University Athletics successful,” Creed said. “The number of positive changes that he has spearheaded for athletic facilities, student athlete support, and related is remarkable. I look forward to working directly with Bob as we continue his progress in turning Campbell Athletics into one of the premier programs in the Big South Conference.”
Roller’s tenure has seen Campbell Athletics achieve its highest academic marks in school history. Campbell student-athletes have maintained an overall GPA of 3.042 over the past two seasons.
During that same period, 42 percent of Campbell’s 480 student-athletes among its 21 NCAA Division 1 sports maintained an overall GPA of 3.25 or higher.
On the field the women’s golf team has won three Big South Conference championships (2012, 2014 and 2016) and competed in five NCAA Regionals and two NCAA Championships; the men’s golf team competed in this year’s NCAA Regionals; the men’s cross country team won the 2015 Big South title; and the baseball team won the Big South regular season title in 2013 and the tournament championship in 2014, when it also earned a berth in the NCAA tournament.
Overall, Campbell Athletics’ 21 Division 1 programs have seen steady improvement in the standings. That culminates with Campbell’s highest ranking in the overall All-Sports Trophy named this week at the Big South Conference Spring Meetings.
“I am most appreciative to Dr. Creed for his confidence and support in this transition. It been an amazing first five years working with Dr. Bazemore and the entire University Cabinet,” Roller said. “Carolyn and I have loved becoming a part of the Campbell community and Buies Creek. The Campbell brand has grown considerably across our state and nation, and there is no reason to slow down. Our alumni and boosters deserve much of the credit for this growth as we have received tremendous support from these groups.”
Roller has led a transformation of Campbell Athletics through major facility improvements and record fund-raising. Major facility additions and expansions he has overseen include:
- Installing a four-sided center hung LED display scoreboard and court-side LED scorer’s table at the John W. Pope, Jr. Convocation Center, where the basketball and volleyball teams play
- Opening the Burt Family Sports Performance Center, adding lights, and completing the West grandstand and press box at Barker-Lane Stadium, where the football and women’s lacrosse teams play
- Renovating and dedicating Jim Perry Stadium, where the baseball team plays
- Dedicating the Irwin Belk Track and Clarence Roberts Field
- Renovating Eakes Athletics Complex, home to the men’s and women’s soccer teams
- Opening Amanda Littlejohn Stadium, where the softball team plays
Construction on the Jim and Daphne Perry Pavilion at the baseball stadium began in early May. The expansion will add locker rooms and offices for the baseball program and additional seating and VIP viewing desks for fans. A Daktronics video board will also be installed this summer at Barker-Lane Stadium.
In addition, Roller led the creation of The CAMMYs, an awards ceremony for student-athletes. He also was instrumental in Campbell winning the bid to host the 2016 Big South Men’s Basketball Championship. The 2016 event held in Buies Creek drew the tournament’s highest attendance in the last five years.
During Roller’s tenure, Campbell has also co-hosted the 2013 and 2015 NCAA Women’s Soccer College Cup and the 2014 NCAA Men’s Soccer College Cup, and hosted the 2015 Big South Softball Championship and the 2014 Southern Conference Wrestling Championship. Campbell will co-host the 2016 NCAA Women’s Soccer College Cup and the 2017 NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Championship.
“I had the opportunity to chair the search committee for the athletics director when the committee recommended the employment of Bob Roller,” Bazemore said. “This was a great choice and I have enjoyed working with Bob since he arrived at Campbell. I am very pleased with his leadership on our campus and his desire to make our athletics program very successful and continue to improve our athletic facilities.”
Before joining Campbell in 2011, Roller served as the athletics director at Samford University for 11 years. Creed was Samford’s provost from 2006 to 2015 before becoming Campbell’s president.
A Pearisburg, Virginia, native, Roller earned his undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech in 1983 and a master’s in education administration from Samford. He and his wife, Carolyn, have one son, Brad; and he has three stepchildren: Kerstin, Kyle and Karrah.
In addition to Roller’s reporting change, Bazemore has added dean of student duties to his responsibilities. In this capacity, Bazemore will lead all programming associated with student activities, campus recreation, counseling, residence life and related. Bazemore is a member of the Campbell University President’s Cabinet.