Campbell steps down as St. Charles boys basketball coach

After enjoying a stellar run as the head coach of the St. Charles High School boys basketball team, including an appearance in the 3A state title game this past winter, Brett Campbell has decided to step away from that role with the Spartans to assume the chores as the athletic director at Catoctin High in Frederick County.

Campbell, who guided the Spartans to a 155-65 record in 10 seasons, including a 20-10 mark in the postseason, will assume his new duties as the Catoctin AD beginning this summer prior to the start of the 2024-2025 school year. Campbell attained his athletic director certification 18 months ago, but said he did not find any of the prior openings appealing.

"I really can't say enough about all of the support that I got from the parents, the administration, my players and my assistant coaches over the last 10 years," Campbell said. "They stayed behind me even after we lost our first 10 games my first season with the program. Even after I got my certification, I really just stayed focused on coaching the team last season."

St. Charles reached the 3A state semifinals during the 2019-2020 season, but the last two rounds of the playoffs that winter were nixed by the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. But last winter St. Charles embarked on a record season for the program taking the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference Championship, the 3A South Region championship then making its first appearance in the 3A state title game.

"Last year, I was so focused on the team that I really didn't look at the openings for athletic director," Campbell said. "I didn't give it any thought until after the season ended when one of our assistant principals, Jason Maxey, told me that there was an AD opening at Catoctin and that I should seriously consider applying for it."

Not long after accepting the position as Catoctin's athletic director, Campbell notified St. Charles that he would not be returning as the boys' basketball coach for the next season. Campbell has had several loyal assistant coaches over the years and expects one or two of them to apply for the vacancy, but he admits that he will stay clear of the selection process.

"I would really love to see one of my assistant coaches get the job next season," Campbell said. "But, I'm going to leave that decision up to [athletic director] Jen Smith and the administration. I can't say enough about the great experience that I had as the boys basketball coach at St. Charles. But I'm ready for the next step in my career and looking forward to all of the challenges ahead."