Mat Campbell
{{Short description|Australian basketball player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2012}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Mat Campbell
| image =
| position = General Manager Illawarra Hawks
| career_position = Shooting guard / small forward
| height_cm = 196
| weight_kg = 84
| league =
| team =
| number =
| nationality = Australian
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1976|6|20}}
| birth_place = Bendigo, Victoria
| high_school =
| career_start = 1996
| career_end = 2012
| years1 = 1996–2012
| team1 = Illawarra / Wollongong Hawks
| highlights =
- NBL champion (2001)
- No. 32 retired by Illawarra Hawks
}}
Mathew Campbell (born 20 June 1976) is an Australian former professional basketball player who played his entire career for the Wollongong Hawks of the National Basketball League (NBL).
NBL career
Born in Bendigo, Victoria, Campbell joined the Illawarra Hawks in 1996, and remained with the club for 17 seasons. In his rookie season, he played in the NBL's Future Forces Game. In 1999, he finished third in voting for the NBL Best Defensive Player Award, and the following season, became the captain of the Hawks. He and long-time teammate Glen Saville helped the Hawks win their maiden NBL championship in 2001 and finish runners-up in 2005.{{cite web|title=Mat Campbell NBL Player Profile |url=http://www.nbl.com.au/default.aspx?s=hawks_playerprofile&profile=106 |work=NBL.com.au |accessdate=28 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070418045316/http://www.nbl.com.au/default.aspx?s=hawks_playerprofile&profile=106 |archivedate=18 April 2007 }} He scored a career-best 36 points against the Townsville Crocodiles in Townsville on 5 December 2005, including 9-of-14 from three-pointer range.{{cite web|title=Mat Campbell Hawks Player Profile |url=http://nbl.com.au/index.php?id=463 |work=NBL.com.au |accessdate=28 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224040405/http://nbl.com.au/index.php?id=463 |archivedate=24 February 2012 }}
Campbell led the "Save the Hawks" campaign in February 2009 to ensure Wollongong's further participation in the NBL. He helped the team raise significant funds as well as obtaining a $1 million guarantee from Gujarat NRE and gaining Australian Health Management as their naming rights sponsor.{{cite web|title=Keys to the City for Mat Campbell |url=http://www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/council/news/Pages/KeystotheCityforMatCampbell.aspx |work=wollongong.nsw.gov.au |date=26 March 2012 |accessdate=28 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329004728/http://www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/council/news/Pages/KeystotheCityforMatCampbell.aspx |archivedate=29 March 2013 }}{{cite web|title=Tribute to Mat Campbell|url=http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20120327007|work=parliament.nsw.gov.au|date=27 March 2012|accessdate=28 February 2016}}
In 2009, Campbell had his iconic No. 32 singlet retired by the Hawks.{{cite web|title=Profile – Mat Campbell|url=http://www.hawkshistory.com.au/legends/mat-campbell.html|work=HawksHistory.com.au|accessdate=28 February 2016}} He is one of only five Illawarra/Wollongong players to have had their jersey retired.{{cite web|title=RETIRED NUMBERS|url=http://www.hawks.com.au/history/retired-numbers/|work=Hawks.com.au|accessdate=28 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160229171728/http://www.hawks.com.au/history/retired-numbers/|archive-date=29 February 2016|url-status=dead}}
On 15 March 2012, Campbell announced his retirement from professional basketball.{{cite web|title=Hawks captain Mat Campbell retires|url=http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/111988/hawks-captain-mat-campbell-retires/|work=IllawarraMercury.com.au|date=15 March 2012|accessdate=28 February 2016}}{{cite web|last=Huntsdale|first=Justin|title=Hawks captain Campbell announces retirement|url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2012/03/15/3454378.htm|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=15 March 2012|accessdate=28 February 2016}}{{cite web|title=PRESS CONFERENCE: Mat Campbell Announces Retirement|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg0hSOVm1kY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/Zg0hSOVm1kY |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|work=YouTube.com|date=14 March 2012|accessdate=28 February 2016}}{{cbignore}} He completed his 17-year NBL career as the Hawks' all-time games played leader with 524 (Glen Saville surpassed that record during the 2012–13 season), and the club's three-pointers made leader with 1,049. In 524 career games, he averaged 11.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.{{cite web|title=Player statistics for Mat Campbell|url=http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=190395803&client=0-189-12315-193068-369910|work=FoxSportsPulse.com|accessdate=28 February 2016}}
National team career
Campbell was a member of the Under 23 Australian squad in 1996, and played for the Australian team during their tours to China and Europe in 2002. Two years later, he trialled for the Boomers to compete in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, but was cut from the squad ahead of the games.{{cite web|title=Boomers coach ends Olympic dreams|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/06/15/1087244915831.html|work=The Age|date=16 June 2004|accessdate=28 February 2016}}
Post-playing career
After retiring, Campbell worked for six years in the mining sector.{{cite web|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/hawks-legend-mat-campbell-named-general-manager-of-illawarra|title=Hawks legend Mat Campbell named Illawarra General Manager|work=NBL.com.au|date=5 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222095857/https://nbl.com.au/news/hawks-legend-mat-campbell-named-general-manager-of-illawarra|archive-date=22 February 2024}}
On 5 April 2018, Campbell was appointed general manager of the Illawarra Hawks. He remained in the role as of February 2024.{{cite web|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/tatum-signs-three-year-deal-with-hawks|title=Tatum signs three-year deal with Hawks|work=NBL.com.au|date=22 February 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222095348/https://nbl.com.au/news/tatum-signs-three-year-deal-with-hawks|archive-date=22 February 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070418045316/http://www.nbl.com.au/default.aspx?s=hawks_playerprofile&profile=106 |date=18 April 2007 |title=NBL player profile }}
- {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224040405/http://nbl.com.au/index.php?id=463 |date=24 February 2012 |title=Wollongong Hawks player profile }}
- [http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=190395803&client=0-189-12315-193068-369910 NBL stats]
{{Wollongong Hawks 2000–01 NBL champions}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Campbell, Mat}}
Category:Australian men's basketball players
Category:Illawarra Hawks players
Category:Sportspeople from Bendigo