| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1947-07-18)July 18, 1947 (age 77) Groton, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1966–1969 | Central Connecticut |
| Position(s) | Defensive back |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1971–1972 | Central Connecticut (assistant) |
| 1973 | Albany (assistant) |
| 1974 | Bridgeport (assistant) |
| 1975 | Pittsburgh (assistant) |
| 1976 | Washington State (DB) |
| 1977–1979 | Boise State (DB) |
| 1980 | Oregon State (assistant) |
| 1981–1982 | Weber State (assistant) |
| 1983 | Iowa State (DB) |
| 1984–1986 | Syracuse (DB) |
| 1987–1988 | Miami (FL) (DB) |
| 1989–1990 | Dallas Cowboys (DA) |
| 1991–1994 | Dallas Cowboys (DB) |
| 1995–1999 | Dallas Cowboys (DC) |
| 2000–2002 | Dallas Cowboys |
| 2003–2004 | Cleveland Browns (DC) |
| 2005–2007 | Jacksonville Jaguars (AHC/DB) |
| 2008–2011 | Dallas Cowboys (DB) |
| 2012–2015 | Kansas (AHC/DC/DB) |
| 2018–2019 | USC (consultant) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 15–33 (NFL) |
David Cross Campo (born July 18, 1947) is anAmerican football coach and former player. Campo served as the head coach for theDallas Cowboys of theNational Football League (NFL) from2000 to2002, compiling a record of 15 wins and 33 losses. He has also been an assistant coach for numerous NFL and college teams.
Campo attendedRobert E. Fitch High School inGroton, Connecticut, where he lettered in football and baseball.
Campo attendedCentral Connecticut State, where he lettered football and baseball. In football, he played defensive back. In baseball, he played shortstop and was a two-time All-East selection.
In 1999, Campo was awarded anhonorary doctoral degree from his alma mater. Of more than 50 such degrees awarded by CCSU, Campo's remains the only one titledDoctor of Health and Physical Education.
Campo began his coaching career in 1971 at his alma mater, coaching two seasons followed by stints atAlbany (1973);Bridgeport (1974);Pitt (1975);Washington State (1976);Boise State (1977–79);Oregon State (1980);Weber State (1981–82);Iowa State (1983); andSyracuse (1984–86).
In 1987, Campo joined theUniversity of Miami staff under head coachJimmy Johnson assecondary coach. At Miami, he helped the Hurricanes to a two-year record of 23–1 and the 1987 National Championship. SafetyBennie Blades was the 1987Thorpe Award winner before being selected with the third pick in the NFL draft by theDetroit Lions.
After two seasons with the Hurricanes, Campo followed Johnson to the Dallas Cowboys in 1989 as a defensive assistant coach. AfterDick Nolan (a Landry holdover) left following the 1990 season, Campo became the defensive backs coach and was a part of two Super Bowl championships (the 1992 and 1993 seasons). WhenButch Davis left the Cowboys to become the Miami Hurricanes' head coach after the 1994 season, Campo was promoted todefensive coordinator. In his first season as defensive coordinator, the Cowboys won the Super Bowl. After five seasons as defensive coordinator, Campo was named as the fifth head coach of the Cowboys on January 26, 2000.[1]
After the firing ofChan Gailey in2000, he was promoted to the head coaching duties of theDallas Cowboys, over candidatesJoe Avezzano andHudson Houck.[2]
Campo's head coaching debut was marred by a successfully executed, surprise on-side kick on the opening kickoff by the underdogPhiladelphia Eagles in the season opener. Later in the game, the Cowboys lostJoey Galloway, their prize off-season free agent acquisition, for the season and quarterbackTroy Aikman for several games with a concussion (Aikman would retire upon the conclusion of the season). The Cowboys lost to the Eagles 41–14 and ultimately finished the season at 5–11.
With considerably lower expectations for the 2001 season after Aikman's retirement, the Cowboys again finished 5–11, but Campo was given credit by many for getting the most out of a less talented team. However, Campo was harshly criticized after aThanksgiving Day game against theDenver Broncos when, trailing 26–10 early in the fourth quarter, Dallas scored a touchdown to make the score 26–16. Campo at first decided to go for two which would narrow the lead to 8 points (a one possession game) but after a timeout decided to kick the extra point leaving Dallas down by 9 points and needing two possessions rather than one. Dallas was only able to score one more touchdown and lost 26–24.
In 2002, Dallas was believed to have much better talent, having acquired all pro defensive linemanLa'Roi Glover and drafting talents such as safety Roy Williams and receiverAntonio Bryant, and a now-more experienced starting quarterback inQuincy Carter. The team was featured onHBO'sHard Knocks in the preseason and Campo's leadership on that show was widely praised. However, the Cowboys stumbled in the season opener losing to the expansionHouston Texans in the Texans' very first game. Dallas entered week 13 with a 5–7 record and led theSan Francisco 49ers 27–24 with about 2 minutes to play. Facing a fourth and one at the 30-yard line, Campo opted for a field goal attempt even though there was a considerable amount of time left in the game. The attempt failed and taking over at the 30, the 49ers drove down the field to win the game. Campo's team was blown out the next two games and finished the season 5–11 for the third straight season, after which he was fired. To date, he is the only Cowboys head coach to have left the team with a losing record. Indeed, he is the only coach in franchise history to have never posted a winning season or coached a playoff game.
In January 2008, Campo was re-hired by the Cowboys as their secondary coach to replaceTodd Bowles, while working under head coachWade Phillips.[3][4] He was not re-signed after the 2011 season and was replaced withJerome Henderson.[5]
In 2003, after his dismissal from the Cowboys, Campo was hired as the defensive coordinator by theCleveland Browns to replaceFoge Fazio, while working under head coachButch Davis, Campo's predecessor as Cowboys defensive coordinator.[6] After Davis resigned from the Browns, his successorRomeo Crennel, fired Campo. Campo then joined theJacksonville Jaguars as assistant head coach working primarily with the secondary unit, under head coachJack Del Rio.
On January 13, 2012,Kansas head coachCharlie Weis hired Campo as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach.[7] He stayed on after Weis was fired early in the 2014 season and replaced first with interim coachClint Bowen and permanent head coachDavid Beaty. He left after the 2015 season.
In August 2018 it was confirmed that Campo had been hired as a consultant at theUniversity of Southern California (USC) to work closely with defensive coordinatorClancy Pendergast. Campo had been away from the game for the last two seasons, the first period since 1972 that he had not held a coaching job at the college or professional level.
| Team | Year | Regular Season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| DAL | 2000 | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 4th in NFC East | – | – | – | – |
| DAL | 2001 | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 5th in NFC East | – | – | – | – |
| DAL | 2002 | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 4th in NFC East | – | – | – | – |
| DAL Total | 15 | 33 | 0 | .313 | – | – | – | |||
| Total | 15 | 33 | 0 | .313 | ||||||