Wildcat boys’ basketball will return in the fall, but one face won’t be among the coaches: Head Coach Zac Campbell. A 16-year veteran of the River Falls basketball program, Campbell made known his decision to pass the baton in a May 13 letter.

“For the past 16 years my family and our coaching staff have given the best we have to serve the community of River Falls through our boys basketball program,” he wrote. “It is with a tremendous amount of gratitude that I am resigning from my current position as the head coach of River Falls basketball. I leave this position eternally grateful for having formed lifelong friendships, developed memories I’ll never forget, and had all of the amazing experiences that come with high school athletics.”

Going on to say he didn’t take the opportunity to lead lightly, Campbell shared that, “I have far too many people to thank for helping hold me up through the journey,” before going on to name a few individually.

“My wife Brooke and our children for allowing our basketball family into our home,” he wrote. “The demand of doing this job at a high level is a year-round journey that often dictates our family schedule. Your support for allowing me to do something I love and being fully immersed into our culture has helped us grow closer as a family, strengthened our faith, and served our community to a higher purpose.”

Campbell also thanked his colleagues on the coaching staff and the team as a whole.

“Our current coaching staff and former assistants, specifically Zach Turpin and Derrick Hackel who have been alongside me for most of this journey,” he wrote. “They have made me a better person with their loyalty and daily love that they give our boys through their servant leadership. I was able to surround myself all winter and summer with many amazing assistants who positively impacted hundreds of lives through our basketball program.”

Going on to thank the team as well as Lori and Jeff Johnson and Bo Hirstein for their leadership, Campbell said the support of the boys basketball board was pivotal to the success of boys basketball on a community level.

“I could not ask for a better experience with better people than those with whom I had the privilege of serving on the boys basketball board,” he shared. “The future of River Falls boys basketball is in good hands through their support.”

Also up for thanks and recognition were athletic directors David Crail and Rollie Hall, helping Campbell develop as a coach.

“Mr. Hall took a chance on an eager, young coach and taught me so much about patience along the way,” Campbell wrote. “Mr. Crail has been invaluable to my development as a person and a coach. His consistent support, tireless work ethic, and leading as a man of faith has helped me become a better person.”

Calling parents Bob and Cindy his number one supporters throughout his life, Campbell said they let him work through challenges without allowing him to take the easy way out, and that, “I could not have had all of these great experiences without the firm foundation and strong expectations they set for my brother and I!”

Going on to thank both alumni and current athletes for their committeemen to the process, Campbell shared that basketball had allowed him to work with many amazing individuals and experience events like weddings alongside collegiate basketball games, and even coach former player’s children.

“Leading a basketball program has allowed me to experience life’s full emotion, and I’m honored to have had these experiences,” he wrote.

Closing out his resignation letter by giving a nod to “the great coaches I’ve had the privilege of competing against,” Campbell said he looked forward to next River Falls coach leading the team forward.

“At the end of the day, my job as a coach is very replaceable,” he wrote. “I get one opportunity to be a father in a role that isn’t replaceable. Brooke and I look forward to better prioritizing Finley, Jordy, Baylor, and Briggs as they learn to navigate who they are in the world.”