May 3, 2001

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland women's soccer head coach Shannon Higgins-Cirovski has announced the hiring of Stephen Campbell as an assistant coach for the Terrapins. Campbell returns to alma mater, where he was a four-year soccer player on the men's team under Higgins-Cirovski's husband Sasho Cirovski from 1992-95.

Campbell has an extensive background in coaching girls' and women's soccer. Since his graduation from Maryland in 1996, Campbell has coached several programs in the state of Maryland. From 1996-98 and in 2000, he was the co-coach of the Maryland Olympic Development Program (ODP) U-13 team. In 1999, he coached the Maryland ODP U-19 team.

Also, since 1998, he served as head coach of the Bethesda Dragons U-16 club team. With the Dragons, Campbell helped his team to numerous honors including the Region I championship, Maryland State championship and Washington Area Girls Soccer (WAGS) title in 1999. The Dragons were named the Team of the Year by the Bethesda Soccer club in both 1999 and 2000.

"We are excited about bring someone of Steve's caliber to our program," said Higgins-Cirovski. "He has shown a great commitment to girls soccer in the youth game and to soccer in the State of Maryland. Also, in being an alum, he is familiar with the campus and surroundings and made him a great choice for this position."

After playing in 49 games as a midfielder with the Terps in the early 90s, Campbell began his career as an assistant coach with the men's program in 1996. He was part of the staff that helped Maryland to the ACC championship in 1997 and NCAA tournament bids in 1996-1998. The 1998 team advanced all the way to the national semifinals.

Campbell holds a USSF National "A" Coaching License. He has also served as the director of Total Soccer Training.

A native of Derbyshire, England, he played for Derby County F.C. youth team and was a member of the England U-18 Schoolboy National Pool before arriving in the U.S. on a full athletic scholarship to the University of Maryland.

He is also pursuing his Master's degree in Kinesiology from Maryland. He is married to the former Maryland gymnastics all-American Nicole Lefcourt.