MATT CAMPBELL IS PENN STATE'S NEW COACH

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Patrick Kraft has named Matt Campbell as the 17th head coach in the storied history of Penn State Football, following unanimous approval from the Board of Trustees’ Equity and Human Resources Committee Monday morning.

MATT CAMPBELL AT HIS INTRODUCTORY PRESS CONFERENCE (Penn State photo by Mark Selders)

 “Matt Campbell embodies the values that define Penn State: integrity, excellence, strength of character and a commitment to student success,” said Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi. “He is a proven builder of strong cultures, a developer of elite student-athletes, and an inspiring presence both on and off the field. His dedication to leading young people and his unwavering competitive drive make him the right choice to lead our football program into its next chapter."

Campbell joins Penn State after a decade as Iowa State’s head coach, where he leaves the Cyclones as the winningest coach in the program’s history. A three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year (2017, 2018, 2020), Campbell led ISU to its only two Top 15 AP Poll finishes ever and coached 18 Cyclone All-Americans. In his coaching career, which also includes stops at Toledo, Bowling Green and Mount Union, he has tutored 39 players who went on to play in the NFL. Campbell is the only coach in Iowa State history to post five-straight winning seasons (2017-21) and owns eight of ISU’s nine winning conference seasons in the Big 12 era.

"From the start of our search, our mission was to find a proven leader who reflects Penn State’s integrity, toughness, and championship expectations,” said Kraft. “We also sought someone who has a demonstrated record of elite player evaluation and development, as well as the ability to retain top talent and assemble a strong staff. We found all that and more in Matt Campbell. For several years, Matt has been one of the most sought-after coaches for a reason, and we are fortunate that he is now our coach. In our discussions, it is clear that Matt understands and appreciates our storied history, our tradition and our high expectations. We are fired up to welcome Matt and his family to Happy Valley!”  

Tied for second-longest tenured active coach in the Big 12 and in program history entering 2025, Campbell led ISU to its first Big 12 regular-season title in 2020 (8-1) and did so again in 2024 (7-2). The Cyclones set the school record for conference wins in 2020 and broke the school record for overall wins in 2024 (11-3). The 2020 season marked the first time in school history ISU ended the conference regular season in sole possession of first place. 

“I am incredibly honored to join Penn State University as its next head football coach,” said Campbell. “This is one of the blue bloods of college football, and this program’s history and tradition are unmatched. I look forward to building on that foundation by developing student-athletes on and off the field, competing for championships and continuing the legacy of excellence that defines Penn State.” 

I want to thank President Bendapudi and Pat Kraft for their trust and support throughout this process. I also want to express my deep gratitude to Iowa State University, its football program and the entire Cyclone community for the incredible memories and experiences my family and I have shared there. We will always cherish our time in Ames. My family and I are eager to become part of the Penn State community and get to work with the student-athletes, staff and fans who make this place so special.”

 Campbell owns 45.2% of ISU’s all-time wins over ranked opponents and has 14 victories over ranked foes during his time at Iowa State. His 50 Big 12 wins are the most by a Cyclone head coach versus conference teams and owns 53.32% of ISU’s 93 all-time Big 12 wins. In earning 50 Big 12 wins, Campbell joins Bob Stoops, Bill Snyder, Mike Gundy and Mack Brown as the only coaches to do so in conference history.

Among active head coaches since 2016, according to Coaches by the Numbers, Campbell is tied for the fourth-best winning percentage against AP Top 5 opponents (.500; 2-2) and the tied for the fifth-best winning percentage against AP Top 10 opponents (.400; 4-6). He has coached nine All-Americans (T-6th) and three first-team All-Americans (T-8th) during that time.

 As a player, Campbell was a defensive end at Mount Union (1999-2002), where he was an All-American, College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-American and two-time Ohio Athletic Conference Lineman of the Year. During his time with the Purple Raiders, his squad won four conference titles, three NCAA Division III National Championships and went 54-1 in his four-year career. He was inducted into the Mount Union Hall of Fame in 2018 and the CSC Academic All-America Hall of Fame in 2022.

A native of Massillon, Ohio, Campbell graduated from Mount Union in 2002, where he was a teammate of Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and earned a bachelor’s degree in history. Campbell and his wife, Erica, have four children, Katie, Izzy, Rudy and Rocco.