Dale Steele, the architect of Campbell University’s modern football program, died on Saturday at the age of 70 after a battle with cancer. The news was confirmed by the university, which noted that a funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 1, inside Butler Chapel on the campus.
A Life Built on Football and Community
Born in 1956 in Coats, North Carolina, Steele earned a degree from the University of South Carolina in 1976, where he distinguished himself as a player on both offensive and defensive lines.
He launched his coaching career in 1977 as a graduate assistant at Ball State, a role that set the stage for a half‑century of leadership across several institutions.
Steele’s journey later took him to East Carolina, where he helped guide four bowl‑eligible teams, and to James Madison University, where he served as Director of Football Administration during the program’s consecutive NCAA FCS championship seasons in 2016 and 2017.
In 2006, Campbell appointed Steele as its first head coach of the modern era, tasking him with reviving a program that had been dormant since 1950. Over the next decade he rebuilt the team, producing winning records, three straight top‑20 rushing rankings, and a five‑game winning streak in 2011 that signaled the Camels’ return to national relevance.
During his tenure, his squads amassed 33 All‑Pioneer Football League selections between 2008 and 2012, and his offenses consistently ranked among the nation’s most potent rushing attacks.
Current head coach Braxton Harris has emphasized that Steele’s influence extended far beyond wins and losses, shaping the character of players and leaving a lasting imprint on the university community.
Steele is survived by his wife of 52 years, Pam Steele, and a close‑knit family that includes siblings Margaret Steele, Kevin Steele, Linda Steele, Jeffrey Steele, Gordon Steele, Melissa Steele and Caroline Steele, as well as extended relatives such as Hannah Bazemore, Meghan Penny, Ben Penny, Kelsey Hearrell, Tony Hearrell, Emery Penny, Fenley Hearrell, and others.
In 2025, Campbell honored Steele by inducting him into the Campbell Athletics Hall of Fame and establishing the Steele Family Endowed Scholarship, an accolade he received after being recognized with the Orange Tie Award.
Even after stepping away from the day‑to‑day grind, Steele remained closely connected to the football program, attending practices, mentoring staff, and cheering on the current roster from the sidelines.