Kirby Camplin
Sport; Football Builder
Induction Year; 2024
Kirby Camplin, the face of Cornwall Minor Football for most of this century. The Cornwall Wildcats, for the most part during 18 seasons of action have been very competitive, but in more recent years have surged to more success and titles, and arguably have become a dominant franchise in the U18 Ontario Summer Football League (OSFL) and the National Capital Amateur Football Association (NCAFA).
In the 2023 NCAFA tackle season, Cornwall had an unprecedented three teams win NCAFA “A” championships. Considering the impact given, Cornwall fields teams in four of the five tackle divisions the NCAFA offers – and there are 14 franchises in the Ottawa-based organization.
Camplin joined the Wildcats in 2006, the same year Cornwall began to play in the long-established NCAFA. He was the driving force behind bringing U18 Varsity football to Cornwall in 2010, the highest level of amateur football, which is heavily sought out by university scouts, allowing players to prolong their play while obtaining a post-secondary education.
From 2013 to 2016, he joined Team Ontario coaching some of the best athletes across Ontario, and competing against USA National Teams, he steadily moved up the coaching ranks. He credits his biggest highlight being a 2015 victory against the U17 Team USA at the International Bowl in Arlington, Texas. Kirby also spent six years working alongside Carleton Ravens University coaching staff, as an assistant coach.
In 2015, when Camplin became president of the Wildcats, or more formally the Cornwall Minor Football Association, “it didn’t stop him from being a coach in U18 Varsity and NCAFA simultaneously. He’s coached at every level of NCAFA, while also being an outstanding leader, mentor, and president (of Cornwall football).
Kirby was inducted to the National Capital Amateur Football Association HOF (NCAFA) Class of 2023 builders category, one of seven inductees – including two current NFLers – also named to the National Capital Amateur Football Association’s Hall of Fame. Kirby continues to make minor football flourish in the Seaway Valley.