Penn State has hired Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell as its next football coach, the university announced Friday. The reported eight-year contract will go before the board of trustees’ compensation committee for final approval Monday, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Penn State athletics director Patrick Kraft praised Campbell as the right leader for the program, citing his track record of success, character and fit with Penn State’s traditions.
Campbell, 46, met with Penn State officials Thursday night and finalized terms Friday. Iowa State promptly moved to replace him, hiring Washington State coach Jimmy Rogers.
Campbell spent 10 seasons at Iowa State and leaves as the winningest coach in program history. He compiled a 72-55 record there, earned three Big 12 Coach of the Year honors, produced eight winning seasons, led the Cyclones to two Big 12 championship-game appearances and coached the team to a Fiesta Bowl victory over Oregon in 2020 that resulted in Iowa State’s first top-10 finish. His earlier head-coaching tenure at Toledo ran from 2011-15, where he went 35-15.
Under Campbell’s leadership, Iowa State posted the program’s first 10-win season and notched 14 wins o
