After years on the football field and in the military, Coach Todd Campbell knows what leadership looks like when it matters most. Now, heโs using his platform not to talk about championshipsโbut to raise awareness about a different kind of battle: the one many veterans face after coming home.
โIโve seen what some of these guys go through when they return,โ Campbell says. โThe mission doesnโt end when the uniform comes off.โ
Campbell, a respected high school football coach and U.S. Army veteran, served 4.5 years on active duty after leaving a promising coaching career in the wake of 9/11. He returned home with an honorable medical dischargeโand a different understanding of what leadership and service really mean.
Since then, heโs quietly committed himself to volunteering with food pantries and shelters focused on helping U.S. veterans re-enter civilian life. Now, heโs urging others to get involved.
โWe talk a lot about respect and patriotism,โ he says. โBut showing up for someoneโbringing them a meal, helping them find housing, even just listeningโthatโs where it starts.โ
A Call to Action for Everyday Citizens
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, over 33,000 veterans were experiencing homelessness in 2022. Many more face unemployment, PTSD, and long delays accessing benefits.
โThese are people whoโve already done their part,โ Campbell says. โThey donโt need a handoutโthey need a community that hasnโt forgotten them.โ
Campbell emphasizes that you donโt need military experience to make a difference. โYou donโt have to have served to serve,โ he adds. โYou just have to care enough to do something.โ
Whether it's volunteering once a month, supporting veteran-focused nonprofits, or checking in on someone you know whoโs struggling, Campbell believes small efforts create real change.
Lessons from the Field
Campbellโs message is rooted in personal experience. After growing up in Abilene, Texas, and coaching college football programs like Texas Tech and College of the Sequoiasโwhere his offense set multiple school recordsโhe gave up that momentum to join the Army.
โI remember where I was when the towers fell,โ he recalls. โEverything I thought I knew about my future changed that day.โ
His military service gave him a new perspective on pressure, responsibility, and how to lead people through fear and uncertainty. โIn the Army, leadership isnโt about being loudโitโs about being steady,โ he says.
When he returned to coaching high school football, he brought that same approach with him. His players have gone on to win championshipsโbut more importantly, theyโve learned discipline, resilience, and self-respect.
Why Now?
โIโve seen kids come from homes where thereโs no stability, and Iโve seen vets living under bridges. Sometimes those stories arenโt far apart,โ Campbell says.
As Veterans Day approaches, he wants to shift the conversation beyond parades and flags.
โCelebrating veterans one day a year isnโt enough. What are we doing the other 364?โ
What You Can Do Today
Coach Campbell encourages people to:
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Volunteer at shelters or food pantries that serve veterans
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Donate to vetted nonprofits focused on veteran housing, job placement, or mental health
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Check in with friends, family, or neighbors who have served
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Educate yourself about VA benefits and local resources in your area
โYou donโt have to fix everything,โ he says. โYou just have to care enough to help where you can.โ
About Coach Todd Campbell
Todd Campbell is a U.S. Army veteran and high school football coach based in Dallas, Texas. A native of Abilene, he has coached at multiple levels, including Texas Tech, Texas A&MโCommerce, and College of the Sequoias. He holds Texas educator certifications in physical education, social studies, and special education. Off the field, he is active in local veteran support efforts and community service.
Media Contact
Contact Person: Coach Todd Campbell
Email: Send Email
City: Dallas
State: Texas
Country: United States
Website: https://www.toddcampbellfootball.com/
