Rob Camposa is in his eighth year at the Naval Academy and first as a technology and video associate within the athletic department. He spent three years as an assistant coach under Rick Sowell and two under current head coach Joe Amplo before making the transition to his current role in September of 2021.
Camposa joined the Navy coaching staff in the fall of 2016 as a volunteer assistant before being promoted to full-time status in the fall of 2017. He stayed aboard the coaching staff when the coaching change was made in the summer of 2019 and currently serves as a volunteer assistant coach.
Under Camposa’s tutelage, Spencer Rees garnered All-America honors in the spring of 2021 in what was his first year as a starter. Additionally, he was named the Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year. Rees boasted the nation’s third-best save percentage (.589), was fifth in saves per game (14.00) and stood 16th in goals against average (9.88).
He played an integral role in tutoring Navy goalkeeper Ryan Kern who graduated in 2020 having started every game over his career (46 gms). Kern closed out his career ranked seventh on Navy’s career saves leader board with 465 and is one of only seven players in program history to amass 450 or more saves. Navy’s top defensive player in 2020, he helped anchor a unit that stood No. 11 in scoring defense (9.40) and man-down defense (11-14, 78.6). Individually, Kern was 18th in goals-against average (9.78), 26th in save percentage (52.7) and 47th in saves per game (9.80).
In 2019, Kern was presented with the Lt. Robert T. Bianchi Award as the team’s most valuable player. He was ranked #12 nationally in saves per game (12.85), #22 in save percentage (53.2) and #48 in goals against average (12.00). He closed out the season with 167 saves which tied as the 15th most by a Navy player in a single season and was the most by a Navy player since 2010 (RJ Wickham, 188).
In 2018, Camposa saw growth in Kern, who stood 14th nationally in goals-against average (8.82), marking just the second time since 2011 Navy has had a goalkeeper finish among the nation’s top 15 (2016, #2 John Connors, 7.25). Kern was rewarded for his efforts by being named Second-Team All-Patriot League.
A starter in all 14 contests as a freshman, Kern became just the third rookie in program history to start the season-opener in goal where he turned in 12 saves against Johns Hopkins at the historic Homewood Field. Kern earned USILA National Defensive Player of the Week honors, while also being named the Patriot League Goalkeeper and Rookie of the Week following his performance against Army. As only the fourth Navy freshman goalkeeper to start an Army-Navy game, Kern produced a then career-high 17 saves that included 10 stops on 15 shots in the fourth quarter. The 17 saves marked the best performance by a Navy goalkeeper in an Army-Navy game since Mickey Jarboe made 19 stops in the final game of his career in 2000. He helped anchor a defensive unit that held Army scoreless for the final 18:32 of the contest while the Mids went on a 7-0 run to upset the Black Knights. Kern closed out his rookie season with 125 saves which are the most by a Navy freshman goalkeeper since Mickey Jarboe amassed 179 in 1997.
Camposa arrived in Annapolis following three seasons as an assistant at Molloy College and a two-year stop in Piscataway, N.J. as a volunteer assistant at Rutgers.
Camposa made the move to Rutgers in 2015 and in 2016, was part of a staff that saw the Scarlet Knights return to the national headlines. Rutgers finished 2016 with an 11-5 record that featured wins over nationally-ranked programs Johns Hopkins (twice) and Penn State, as well as Army. The Scarlet Knights opened the 2016 season by winning their first five games and went on to claim victories in five of its seven contests heading into the Big Ten Tournament where they upset Johns Hopkins in the opening round, 14-12.
Senior goalkeeper Kris Alleyne played a pivotal role in that tournament victory over the Blue Jays, making eight of his 14 saves in the second half. Alleyne, who posted a 51.7 save percentage and 9.91 goals-against average in 2016, was named to the North-South All-Star Game. He finished his career with 545 saves which stands fifth on Rutgers all-time saves leader board.
In 2012, Camposa began his collegiate coaching career at Molloy College where he primarily worked with the goalkeepers. Over his three seasons, the Lions amassed a 25-19 record that featured a 10-4 mark in 2013. Molloy finish the 2013 campaign ranked 12th nationally, marking the first time the program had been ranked since 2009. In his final season on staff, the Lions finished with an 8-6 record and appeared in the national rankings for eight weeks. Five players earned All-East Coast Conference recognition, including goalkeeper John Grebe, who recorded 144 saves and a .554 save percentage for the Lions.
A native of Syosset, N.Y., Camposa saw action in 30 contests over his collegiate career (2007-11), making 22 starts (14-8) between the pipes for the Seawolves. As a senior, he made 129 saves, registered a 53.8 save percentage and owned an 8.25 goals-against average en route to garnering Second-Team All-America East honors. He started all 14 contests as a senior that and the Seawolves post a 10-4 record and earn a spot in the America East Championship Game. Additionally, he earned America East All-Tournament Team mention. He closed out his career with 230 saves.
Camposa came to Annapolis with a strong knowledge of the Academy. His uncles Rich (‘83) and Bob (‘87) Wehman are not only Naval Academy graduates, but both played lacrosse under the guidance of Dick Szlasa (1973-82) and Bryan Matthews (1983-94). Bob was the captain of the 1987 Navy lacrosse team, while Rich was a three-time All-American (HM ‘81-82, 3rd Team ‘83) and stands 17th on Navy’s career scoring list with 130 points (95-35).
Camnposa and his wife, Kelley, reside in Annapolis.
