Belleville Senators name Andrew Campbell head coach on three-year deal

Does Andrew Campbell’s inside track give Belleville the best chance to speed up NHL-ready growth from a young roster? The Belleville Senators answered that question by giving the 38-year-old a three-year contract and making him their head coach for the 2026-27 American Hockey League season, betting on continuity inside Ottawa’s development system.

Campbell had already been behind the bench since Dec. 17, 2025, when Ottawa relieved David Bell and elevated the longtime staff member from interim coach to the top job. His first stretch drew immediate attention because Belleville picked up four points in his debut weekend, then kept stacking results as the club later said it had points in eight straight games and had gone 6-0-2-0 since Jan. 10 in the middle of a tight North Division playoff race.

The move officially makes Campbell the fourth head coach in Belleville Senators franchise history. It also closes the book on Bell’s run, which produced a 97-78-15-11 record across parts of four seasons. Bell first took over as interim coach on Feb. 3, 2023, then was named full-time head coach on May 2, 2023 before eventually being dismissed in December.

Campbell’s rise has been quick, but it was built inside the organization. He joined Belleville as an assistant coach in July 2024 after previously working as an assistant with the Hamilton Bulldogs, and his background as a defenseman gave him a player’s view of the details Ottawa wants sharpened in the minors. Stefan Legein and goaltending coach Paul Gibson remained on the staff under him, keeping much of the bench intact as the Senators turned to a familiar voice.

That continuity matters because Belleville is Ottawa’s AHL affiliate, and every coaching decision feeds the NHL club’s larger pipeline. Steve Staios framed the change as an organizational reset, saying, “We are constantly evaluating ways to improve our organization and felt the timing was right for a fresh voice and approach in Belleville.” For Ottawa, Campbell’s promotion is about more than a bench boss. It is a bet that a coach who already knows the room can help turn Belleville’s young roster into a faster, more reliable source of NHL help.