Iowa State’s head coach, Matt Campbell, has accepted an eight-year contract to lead the Penn State Nittany Lions, according to sources reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel. This agreement is set to be reviewed by the compensation committee of the school’s board of trustees for final approval on October 16, 2023.
Campbell, who holds the title of the winningest coach in Iowa State history, recently met with Penn State officials and finalized negotiations on October 13, 2023. The decision comes as Penn State seeks a replacement for former head coach James Franklin, who was dismissed on October 12 following a disappointing start to the season.
Iowa State has organized a team meeting for 8 p.m. ET on Friday, where players will likely be informed of the coaching transition.
In its pursuit of a new leader, Penn State initially considered Kalani Sitake, the head coach at BYU, but he opted to remain with the Cougars after agreeing to a contract extension. Campbell, a three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year, has an impressive track record from his ten seasons with the Cyclones, achieving eight winning seasons, two appearances in the Big 12 championship game, and a Fiesta Bowl victory over Oregon in 2020, which marked the school’s first-ever top-10 finish.
Over his decade at Iowa State, Campbell compiled a record of 72-55, establishing himself as the program’s all-time winningest coach. Prior to Iowa State, he served as head coach at Toledo from 2011 to 2015, where he recorded a 35-15 record. His background is enriched by strong ties to the Midwest; a native of Massillon, Ohio, Campbell began his college playing career at the University of Pittsburgh and later won three national championships with Division III Mount Union.
This season, Iowa State began strong with a 5-0 record and reached as high as No. 14 in the Associated Press poll. However, a subsequent four-game losing streak derailed their hopes for a Big 12 title. They managed to recover with a three-game winning streak in November, finishing the season with an overall record of 8-4.
Last year, Iowa State posted an impressive 11-3 record and narrowly missed a chance to compete in the College Football Playoff after a loss to Arizona State in the Big 12 championship game. The program earned a No. 15 finish in the AP poll after a victory against Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
During Campbell’s tenure, he and his coaching staff have developed 15 NFL draft picks, contributing to the emergence of stars like Brock Purdy, Breece Hall, and David Montgomery. Notably, defensive end Will McDonald IV became the first Cyclone selected in the first round of the NFL draft since 1973.
Before Campbell’s leadership, Iowa State struggled significantly, failing to achieve a winning season since 2009. Under his guidance, the Cyclones secured 14 victories against AP top 25 opponents, highlighting a remarkable turnaround for the program.
Throughout his time at Iowa State, Campbell has consistently been a candidate for high-profile coaching roles, including opportunities with the Detroit Lions and the University of Southern California. Despite interest from these programs, he chose to remain in Ames, focusing on developing a program that had previously not achieved a ten-win season until 2022.
At Iowa State, Campbell’s total compensation was reported at $5 million per year, following a contract extension earlier in the year that extended through 2032. Meanwhile, Penn State entered the season ranked No. 2 in the preseason AP Top 25, with aspirations of competing for a national championship in 2025 after their appearance in the College Football Playoff semifinals last season.
Franklin’s termination came during a challenging stretch for the Nittany Lions, who opened their Big Ten play with three consecutive losses, resulting in a drop to a 3-3 record. He has since accepted a five-year contract to become head coach at Virginia Tech, along with a $9 million settlement from Penn State related to his original buyout of $49 million.
To conclude the season, Penn State appointed long-time assistant Terry Smith as interim head coach, who successfully led the team to victory in their final three Big Ten games, allowing them to achieve bowl eligibility with a record of 6-6.
