Rick Campbell – Co-General Manager/Head Coach
RICK CAMPBELL- CO-GM, HEAD COACH
2024 marks Rick’s fifth full year with the organization after he was introduced as the 27th head coach in BC Lions history in early December 2019. Campbell led the Lions to a second consecutive 12-win campaign in 2023 and another appearance in the Western Division Final. The CFL lifer also continues to climb the Lions’ record books, entering 2024 two wins shy of Dave Ritchie for sixth on the franchise’s all-time win list and four behind Mike Benevides for fifth spot.
Before moving to the West Coast, Campbell served as the first head coach in REDBLACKS franchise history from 2014-19.
While at the helm of the RedBlacks, the 53-year-old native of Spokane, Washington quickly transformed the expansion club into an East Division power and enjoyed three trips to the Grey Cup in 2015, 2016 and 2018.
His hard work and innovative approach to coaching earned him the CFL’s Coach of the Year award in 2015 after guiding Ottawa to a Grey Cup appearance in just his second year with the club. A year later, Rick enjoyed his first Grey Cup title as a head coach as the RedBlacks triumphed over the Calgary Stampeders 39-33 in an overtime thriller.
Since taking his first coaching position in 1999, Rick has been part of three Grey Cup champions including a pair of tiles in Edmonton in 2003 and 2005. His two decades spent in the CFL include roles as a defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator, defensive backs coach and running backs coach.
Growing up in Edmonton and a graduate of Washington State University, Rick’s ties to coaching run deep as the son of Canadian Football Hall of Fame member Hugh Campbell who enjoyed a storied playing career with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and coached Edmonton’s historic five-in-a-row squads that won Grey Cup championships in 1978, ’79, ‘80, ‘81 and ’82. Rick and his wife Brianna reside in White Rock throughout the year.
Coaching Path
2020- present: Co-General Manager, Head Coach, BC Lions
2014–2019: Head Coach, Ottawa RedBlacks
2012–2013: Defensive Coordinator, Calgary Stampeders
2011: Assistant Head Coach, Special Teams Coordinator, Edmonton Eskimos
2010: Running Backs Coach, Calgary Stampeders
2009: Special Teams Coordinator, Defensive Backs Coach, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
2005–2008: Defensive Coordinator, Edmonton Eskimos
1999–2004: Special Team Coordinator, Defensive Backs Coach: Edmonton Eskimos
1996–1998: Graduate Assistant, University of Oregon