Mark Campbell is reaping the rewards of a breakthrough season guiding the Texas Christian University women’s basketball program. The former Hawaii men’s basketball point guard earned an extension with TCU through 2030, the school announced Wednesday, after taking the Horned Frogs to new heights in his second season in Fort Worth.
TCU finished in last place when it made a coaching change and hired Campbell from Sacramento State in 2023. Two years later, the school has its first Big 12 regular-season title. The Horned Frogs (31-3) went on to win the Big 12 tournament and are a 2 seed in the Birmingham 3 regional. They play Fairleigh Dickinson at 9:30 a.m. Hawaii time Friday as the first-time host of a subregional.
“You kind of feel like you’re living in the movie as this thing keeps unfolding,” Campbell said in a TCU social media post. Campbell, the Big 12 Coach of the Year, used the same playbook from his success at Sacramento State — albeit at a much grander scale — and employed the NCAA transfer portal to great effect. After getting Oregon transfer center Sedona Prince last year, he lured in Hailey Van Lith as a transfer from LSU last offseason and Van Lith became TCU’s first Big 12 Player of the Year.
The Frogs defeated then-No. 3 Notre Dame in the Cayman Islands Classic for the biggest single win in program history. In conference play, they swept Big 12 traditional power Baylor in three games after entering the season with zero wins against the Bears since 1990, emphatically breaking a streak of 37 losses.
Campbell thanked TCU administration for supporting his family. “We’ve proven TCU can compete and win at the highest level,” he said in a statement. “I am proud of the way our players and staff have presented our program while leading TCU to its greatest basketball season in school history. We are going to continue building the best women’s basketball program in the country right here in Fort Worth.”
The winner of the TCU-FDU game gets the winner of Louisville and Nebraska at Schollmaier Arena on Sunday. Last season, the Frogs made strides, going 21-12 and playing in the WBIT, but at one point they were so ravaged by injuries that Campbell had to hold a tryout for the TCU student body to bolster the roster.
Campbell, a Mt. Vernon, Wash. native, came to Hawaii from Clackamas (Ore.) Junior College and was the hard-nosed starting point guard on the 2001-02 team that won a then-program-record 27 games and made the NCAA Tournament.
“In just two seasons, he has made an unbelievable impact on our players, and competitively by bringing TCU its first Big 12 championships as well as growing the sport’s popularity within our campus and Fort Worth communities,” TCU Athletic Director Mike Buddie said in a statement. “Coach Campbell has made TCU a brand name in women’s basketball and a program that has earned its spot among the nation’s elite.”
Meanwhile, Fairleigh Dickinson, who arrives at Fort Worth with a strong 29-3 record (19-0 NEC) and their own championship momentum, will also be looking to upset the Horned Frogs. They will play TCU on Friday, March 21, 2025, at Schollmaier Arena, with the game set to tip off at 3:30 p.m. EDT (9:30 a.m. Hawaii time).
Fairleigh Dickinson comes into this matchup boasting a perfect record against opponents from the Northeast Conference and a formidable scoring presence in the paint with Teneisia Brown leading the team while averaging over 15 points per game. In contrast, TCU’s Sedona Prince has emerged as a key player averaging 17.5 points and 9.6 rebounds for the Horned Frogs, as they boast strong offensive statistics with a significant advantage in three-point shooting.
“We know how competitive this tournament is and that it takes more than just a star to win games,” Campbell noted. Indeed, while TCU's trio of Van Lith, Prince, and Madison Conner will likely be pivotal to their success, the performances of supporting players will also be critical.
Donovyn Hunter has started to come into her own since being inserted into the starting lineup on February 19, averaging 10.7 points and providing seamless support to Van Lith. Hunter showed her value during the Big 12 Tournament, where she scored 11 points in the championship win over Baylor. She effectively eases pressure on scoring leaders, allowing them to operate more freely.
Then there’s Deasia Merrill. She scored six key points in 18 minutes against Iowa State, stepping up when Prince was facing foul trouble. As a forward, her contributions have proven vital to the depth of TCU's frontcourt alongside Prince and Emma Agnes-Nnopu.
Lastly, TCU will be looking for Taylor Bigby to break out of her mid-season slump. Bigby showed promise early in the season, scoring in double figures multiple times, including a 19-point performance against Iowa State. The pressure is on her to regain confidence, especially on their home turf.
The stakes are high as the Horned Frogs prepare for the anticipated duel against Fairleigh Dickinson, aware that the journey through March Madness always brings surprises. With an energized fan base and a supportive atmosphere at the Schollmaier Arena, TCU hopes to secure a spot in the next round and continue its historic pursuit in women's basketball.
