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Matt Campbell pens goodbye letter to Iowa State fans in Des Moines Register

On3 imageby: Dan Morrison8 hours agodan_morrison96

It’s the end of an era at Iowa State. Longtime Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell made the decision to take the Penn State job.

One of the most successful Iowa State coaches ever, Campbell’s tenure will be fondly remembered in Ames. It wasn’t an easy decision for Campbell either. So, to express his emotions in leaving, he penned a goodbye letter to the program in the Des Moines Register.

“Ten years ago, my family and I embarked on a journey to Ames as we made the decision to become Cyclones, and we will forever be grateful to have had the opportunity to do so,” Matt Campbell wrote. “At the same time, we made the decision because of what we believed Iowa State could become — and it was the honor of a lifetime to be a part of the Iowa State program as those beliefs became reality.”

Matt Campbell would go on to thank those people around the Iowa State program. That includes Jamie Pollard, President [Steven] Leath, President [Wendy] Wintersteen, and Mike Norton. He would also go on to praise the fans, players, and coaches. In particular, he called out Dan McCarney.

“The hardest decision Erica and I have ever had to make was the one we made last week, as we chose to accept the Head Coaching position at Penn State University. What Iowa State means to our family extends far beyond a football program. We will always look back at our time in Ames with the fondest of memories for allowing our family to learn, grow, and find our way… together. As hard as it was to make the decision, I rest easy knowing the future of Iowa State has never been brighter. Under the leadership of Jamie Pollard, Iowa State is positioned to continue to achieve success in all ways, on and off the field,” Campbell wrote.

“Jimmy Rogers is a tremendous football coach, who will bring a winning blueprint, staff, and culture to Ames. I am confident he will continue to build upon the success of the past, and I look forward to celebrating that success.”

Matt Campbell spent 10 years at Iowa State. During that time, he went 72-55, finished in the AP Top 25 twice, and got the Cyclones bowl eligible in eight seasons. Those 72 wins are the most in program history. This at a program that hadn’t won more than three games in a year the previous four seasons before he got there and had never had a double-digit win season before Campbell.

Clearly, Campbell left Iowa State in a better place than he found it. Now, he’s on to the next chapter, trying to elevate Penn State to among the true national championship contenders.

“Words will never be able to properly express my emotions as we embark on this new journey, and the gratitude our family feels for our time in Ames. Thank you. For everything. It’s a Cyclone State,” Campbell concluded.