Matt Campbell Brings Iowa State Blueprint to Penn State, Vows Not to Change
Iowa football fans know the story well. Matt Campbell took a struggling Iowa State program and turned it into a Big 12 contender. Now the winningest coach in Cyclones history is taking his act to Penn State, and he is making one thing clear. He is not changing his approach.
Campbell, 46, left Iowa State after a decade that saw the Cyclones reach 11 wins for the first time in 2024. That season ended with a Pop-Tarts Bowl victory and cemented his legacy as the program's greatest coach. Now he faces a new challenge at a program with national championship expectations.
What Made Campbell Successful at Iowa State
Campbell inherited a program that had been a Big 12 doormat. Through relentless focus on process and people, he built a culture that produced NFL stars like Brock Purdy, Breece Hall, David Montgomery, and Allen Lazard. The Cyclones posted only two losing seasons in his 10 years.
His philosophy is simple. Results follow when you get the process right. Campbell told ESPN he is sticking with that formula at Penn State.
I'm not wavering. I think the misnomer has been it's not about results. The reality is, we have chosen to focus on the process and the people, aligning those two things as good or better than anybody to be the best we truly can be, and I think it's really why we got the results at Iowa State, and I don't know any other way.
That approach earned him three Big 12 Coach of the Year awards. It also drew attention from the NFL. The Detroit Lions reportedly offered him a multi-year deal at one point.
Why Campbell Left Iowa State for Penn State
Penn State hired Campbell after James Franklin was let go in 2025 following a historic collapse. Franklin had led the Nittany Lions to the College Football Playoff semifinals in 2024 but could not sustain success. Campbell saw an opportunity to restore a proud program to its glory days.
He has already brought more than 20 transfers to Happy Valley, including former Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht. The move signals that Campbell is building with familiar pieces and trusted relationships.
Campbell's Message to Iowa Fans
For Iowa State supporters, Campbell's departure stings. But his legacy in Ames is secure. He took a program that had never won 11 games and made it a consistent winner. He developed players who became household names in the NFL.
Campbell acknowledges the challenge ahead. He knows success at Penn State will be measured differently than at Iowa State.
We're going to have to continue to grow at a rapid pace. We're going to have to experience success and failure, and how do we respond to that? That's ultimately where we'll be defined, and so I love the challenge of that. That's really been my focus, not so much about what is success or what is failure. It's, man, what are the processes?
Penn State has not won a national championship in nearly 40 years. Campbell aims to change that. But he is doing it his way, the same way that turned Iowa State into a powerhouse.