PSU Football
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News—Dec. 5, 2025—Updated 12-6
Matt Campbell New Penn State Head Coach
Penn State released a statement Friday evening (Dec. 5) announcing that it had come to terms with Matt Campbell of Iowa State to become the 17th head coach of the Nittany Lions. The official introduction of Campbell in State College will be on Monday, Dec. 8 after the Board of Trustees Human Resources Committee approves the contract. The announcement ends a somewhat chaotic and drawn-out 54-day coaching search that had seen PSU attempt to lure a number of candidates to take the job. PSU Interim Head Coach Terry Smith, a popular choice of the players and many fans to get the top job, will remain with his Alma Mater in the role of Associate Head Coach. It is also expected that Iowa State Defensive Coordinator Jon Heacock will follow Campbell to Penn State.
Campbell reportedly agreed to an 8-year deal worth approximately $10 million per year. PSU will also reportedly provide a $17 million pool for staff compensation and $30 million in NIL money. Smith reportedly will get a new 4-year contract to stay with the Nittany Lions coaching staff. Penn State might also share in a buyout payment to Iowa State with Campbell for approximately $2 million. Penn State would also owe buyouts totaling around $12 million to Andy Kotelnicki OC & Jim Knowles DC, if they are not retained by Campbell on his new PSU staff.
Campbell was in his 10th season as head coach at Iowa State (2016-25) going 8-4 overall and 5-4 in the Big 12. He also beat a common foe of Penn State’s in 2025, defeating Iowa 16-13. Campbell won a program record 72 games (72-55) in his decade in Ames, Iowa and was named Big 12 Coach of the Year 3-times. His best season with the Cyclones was in 2024 when he won 11 games (11-3) for the first time in school history and reached the Big 12 Championship Game. Prior to Iowa State, Campbell was the head coach at Toledo for four seasons (2012-15). He is 5-5 in bowl games at both Toledo and ISU. His overall head coaching record is 107-70.
Campbell played college football for one season at Pitt in 1998 before transferring to Division 3 Mount Union in Ohio to finish his career (1999-2002). His roommate and teammate at Mount Union was current Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni.
