Bob Roller is stepping down as athletic director at Campbell to take a position as the national director for sports marketing for Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Roller has been with the Camels since 2011, leading the program through a successful period that included the transition from non-scholarship status in football to full-time membership in the Big South Conference.
Long-time former women’s basketball coach Wanda Watkins will serve as Campbell’s interim AD effective on Jan. 1.
“Bob Roller is a valued friend and colleague with whom I’ve had the honor to work at two universities,” Campbell president J. Bradley Creed said in a statement. Creed and Roller also worked together Samford before coming to Buies Creek.
“His influence on Campbell Athletics is significant with accomplishments by our student-athletes in the classroom and in the arena of sports competition,” Creed said. “Through fundraising, facilities enhancement, and his overall leadership, Bob Roller has played an important role in making Campbell a better university. We will miss him, but owe him our gratitude and appreciation.”
In his introductory press conference in July 2011, Roller vowed to equip and develop Campbell’s student-athletes to become “graduates and leaders, while hanging championship banners across campus.” He followed through on that promise by leading the Camels to new heights in academics, facility construction, fundraising and competition.
Campbell athletes have maintained an overall grade point average of 3.0 over the school’s 21 NCAA intercollegiate sports over the past 10 semesters. On the field, Roller oversaw numerous Big South championships and NCAA tournament berths.
His other accomplishments include record fundraising and major facility improvements, including the addition of 3,000 seats and an 80-foot tall press box and suite tower at Barker-Lane Stadium.
The search for a new AD will begin immediately.
