The Australian former cricketer moves into the Director of Cricket and High-Performance Coaching position at the end of the season.
Ryan Campbell will step down as Men's Head Coach at the end of the season to become Durham's Director of Cricket and High-Performance Coaching. The 54-year-old Australian former cricketer replaces Marcus North, who departed in May 2026 to become England Men's National Selector. Campbell's new role will encompass responsibility for the club's cricketing strategy, Men's and Women's professional squads, talent pathway and cricket operations.
Campbell joined Durham in 2023 on a three-year deal and has overseen a period of significant achievement during his tenure. He led the Men's side to promotion back to Division One in his first season. The team experienced relegation but responded by winning Division Two in 2026, demonstrating resilience and competitive improvement. Beyond league performance, Campbell's coaching has delivered success across multiple formats. Durham reached the Vitality Blast Quarter Finals for the first time since 2018 and qualified for the 2025 knockout stages in the T20 competition. The club also reached the semi-final stage of the Metro Bank One Day Cup during the 2026 season.
"We are delighted to appoint Ryan as our new Director of Cricket and High-Performance Coaching at Durham Cricket. He has big shoes to fill in replacing Marcus North but continuity was an important factor in making this decision alongside delivering our long-term vision for Durham Cricket. Ryan like Marcus understands the passion for cricket in the North East and totally buys into producing outstanding cricketers who will bring success for Durham and of course England in the years to come. “Ryan’s first objective will be to appoint his successor as our Men’s High-Performance coach along with myself and this process has already begun," Durham Cricket Chief Executive, Tim Bostock, said in a media release from the club.
Campbell's transition to the director role
Campbell, while speaking about his promotion, mentioned that when players from the club go on to represent England, it gives him great joy. He also lauded the supporters of the club for backing the team throughout the season.
"It’s been an incredible four seasons as Men’s Head Coach. We built an entertaining, attacking brand of cricket that helped drive us to promotion, we felt every bit of the pain when we were relegated, and this year we answered that the right way by winning Division Two. Seeing players from this squad go on to play for England has been one part of my job that has made me extremely proud," Campbell said.
"The fans up here in the North East have been brilliant throughout — my family and I have properly settled here; this is home for us now. Moving into the Director of Cricket and High Performance Coaching role isn’t stepping back, it’s a chance to keep shaping the direction of this club, and I’m really looking forward to it," he added.
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Academy development and succession planning
Academy development has formed a key part of Campbell's work at Durham. Several young players progressed to professional debuts under his guidance, including Ben McKinney, Haydon Mustard, James Minto, Daniel Hogg, Luke Robinson and Robbie Bowman. This pathway development aligns with the club's long-term strategy of producing cricketers capable of representing both Durham and England. The club reviewed the Men's Head Coach position with Campbell leading the search for his successor alongside club leadership, a process that had already begun.