Matt Campbell Named New Penn State Football Coach

Matt Campbell has been officially introduced as the new head football coach at Penn State University. During a press conference on Monday (December 8), Campbell expressed that becoming the head coach for the Nittany Lions is a "dream come true." He takes over as the 17th head coach in the program's history, following the firing of James Franklin in October.

Campbell, 46, comes to Penn State after a successful tenure at Iowa State, where he led the Cyclones to a 72-55 record over ten seasons, including appearances in the Big 12 championship game and a Fiesta Bowl victory in 2020. His contract with Penn State is an eight-year deal worth up to $78.5 million, including yearly retention bonuses of $1 million. Campbell's first-year base salary is set at $8 million, with incremental increases through 2031.

At the press conference, Campbell emphasized his commitment to building "championship habits" within the team and highlighted his excitement about working with the program's leaders and players. He plans to retain interim coach Terry Smith, who has been a key figure in the program, stating, "Terry is somebody who has really been the heartbeat of this program."

Campbell's appointment follows a lengthy 54-day coaching search led by Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft. Kraft described the search as challenging but expressed confidence in Campbell's ability to lead the team to new heights. Campbell's introduction marks a new chapter for Penn State football, as the team prepares to face Clemson in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl on Saturday, December 27, at Yankee Stadium.