Exclusive: TCU signs women’s basketball head coach Mark Campbell to extension
TCU has signed women’s basketball head coach Mark Campbell to a contract extension, the Star-Telegram learned Wednesday. Campbell’s current deal will be extended through 2030.
Hired in March 2023, Campbell has taken TCU from the bottom of the Big 12 to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 2 seed in just his second season.
The Horned Frogs went 31-3 this season and captured the program’s first Big 12 regular season and conference tournament championships. Campbell was voted Big 12 Coach of the Year after the Horned Frogs’ historic season.
“I truly appreciate the commitment to me and my family,” Campbell said in a statement. “TCU is a special place and the support from the community has been incredible.”
TCU athletic director Mike Buddie told the media earlier this week it was one of his top priorities to get Campbell signed to ward off any potential competition.
“It’s incumbent on me to make sure we’ve provided him a fair market range in revenue sharing compared to the teams he’s trying to compete with,” Buddie said on Monday. “To be frank we’re trying to compete with South Carolina and UConn and UCLA. He’s proven that he can compete at that level.
“We know people are going to come after coach. I think he wants to be here and it’s up to me to find a way to keep him here.”
Just a few days later Buddie was able to seal the deal with Campbell, marking his first big move as athletic director after taking over for Jeremiah Donati in December. Donati departed to become the AD at South Carolina in December.
“I want to thank Mike Buddie, Chancellor (Victor) Boschini and President Daniel Pullin for their investment in women’s basketball,” Campbell said. “We’ve proven TCU can compete and win at the highest level. I’m proud of the way our players and staff have represented our program while leading TCU to its greatest basketball season in school history.”
With the deal being done TCU keeps one of the sports’ best recruiters and tacticians in the game. In just two seasons Campbell has signed transfers like Hailey Van Lith, Sedona Prince, Madison Conner, Maddie Scherr and Donovyn Hunter.
Van Lith was voted Player of the Year while Prince and Conner were first team All-Big 12.
Campbell’s turn around of the program was immediate as TCU surged to a 14-0 record and an AP top-25 ranking in 2023 before injuries decimated the roster and forced the Horned Frogs to forfeit multiple games.
TCU still finished 21-12 which was enough to convince players like Van Lith and Hunter that the program was moving in the right direction.
Campbell will attempt to lead the Horned Frogs to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in program history starting with TCU’s first round matchup against No. 15 seed Fairleigh Dickinson at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Schollmaier Arena.
“We are going to continue building the best women’s basketball program in the country, right here in Fort Worth,” Campbell said.
This story was originally published March 19, 2025 at 2:08 PM.
