Silver City, N.M. - Head Football Coach Philip Vigil has announced the hiring of former Mustang standout, James Lee as the Mustangs' Defensive Lineman Coach, and the promotion of Sam Camp as the Pass Game Coordinator.
Lee was the Assistant Defensive Lineman Coach a season ago, behind Brian Dixon. Dixon has recently taken a job in California.
"I am so excited to welcome James Lee as our new Defensive Line coach. Coach Lee was an excellent player here and we know he will continue to have a significant impact on the success of WNMU. Coach Lee volunteered for us last season and his work ethic, selflessness, and knowledge of the game was obvious for everyone to see. He also brings in an expertise about recruiting the state of New Mexico and will help us recruit and retain the best New Mexico student athletes to WNMU."
Lee will take over a defense line that totaled 22.5 sacks (as a team 31.5), good enough for fourth in the LSC. The defensive line totaled 189 tackles and 48.5 tackles for loss. He will also serve as the team's Community Engagement Coordinator.
Lee played at WNMU from 2015-2019, where he was named team captain and the Defensive End LSC All-Conference recipient in 2018 and 2019. At WNMU he earned his bachelor's degree in Kinesiology with a minor in Coaching. He continued his education at WNMU and earned his Master's in Interdisciplinary Studies with focuses in Educational Leadership and Psychology.
The native from Bayard, NM, is the Mustangs modern era career holder for career tackles for loss with 31.5 and sacks, totaling 17.5. In his career Lee totaled 251 tackles, blocked three kicks, forced five fumbles, and recovered three fumbles.
Lee went on to play professionally in the Fan Controlled Football League in 2021. He was named the Best performing Defensive End in the 2021 FCF Training Camp. He later earned the Coach John Jenkins Stability Award. While playing, he was nominated twice as a Defensive Player of the Week, recorded the first ever safety in FCF, and won the first ever FCF Championship.
Sam Camp has been promoted to the Mustangs Pass Game Coordinator. Camp is also the Wide Receivers Coach and the Mustangs Recruiting Coordinator.
"Coach Camp has been an excellent member of this team from the moment he stepped on campus. He has worked tirelessly to help us build something extremely special here at Western New Mexico. With Coach Camp's position group leading the conference in several categories, I am excited for him to have an even bigger role within our offense," said Vigil.
Camp will take on an offense that led the LSC in receptions, passing percentage, average passing yards per game and was second with total passing yards. The Mustangs also had four receivers in the top-15 with total receptions.
As the recruiting coordinator, Camp has helped bring in the largest recruiting class at WNMU with 45 signees for the class of 2022.
Camp will enter his second year with the Mustangs, but started his college football coaching career, as graduate assistant at Kansas Wesleyan University for two seasons (2018-20).
Camp came to Kansas Wesleyan after a four-year career at Friends University in Wichita, KS. While at Friends, Camp played wide receiver for the Falcons, recording 100 career receptions and 1242 receiving yards, and six touchdowns. As a senior in the 2017 campaign, Camp had 46 receptions for 599 yards for the Falcons.
In 2015, he was Honorable Mention All-KCAC at utility and receiver, and in 2016 he was named Second Team All-KCAC at utility and Honorable Mention All-KCAC as a receiver. In 2017, Camp was named Second Team All-KCAC as a receiver.
Camp is a native of Winfield, KS, and completed his degree in Health Management from Friends in 2018. He was also a member of the Friends University Track and Field team.
This article is presented by First American Bank. First American Bank is a proud supporter of WNMU Athletics!
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Western New Mexico University is a member of the NCAA Division II, and the Lone Star Conference (LSC). For additional information regarding Mustang Athletics, visit www.wnmumustangs.com; visit wnmu.edu for more information about Western New Mexico University. Follow the Mustangs on social media: @WNMUathletics (Twitter & Instagram) and search Western New Mexico Athletics on Facebook.
