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Cyclones AD on new Penn State head coach: 'Iowa State University needs to put a statue up of Matt Campbell'

Mug-Shot 4x4by: Ryan Snyder5 hours agoRyanSnyderOn3

Penn State has its next head coach, hiring former Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell on Friday evening.

Nittany Lion athletic director Pat Kraft took plenty of heat in recent days after the search dragged past the first two days of the early signing period. However, in the end, Kraft was able to hire a coach that many will credit as one of the best hires of the cycle.

Once it became clear that Campbell was leaving Ames, Iowa State athletic director Jaime Pollard announced that the Cyclones would be hiring former Washington State head coach Jimmy Rogers. He then met with the media shortly after to discuss a variety of topics, including Campbell’s impact on Iowa State.

“Iowa State University needs to put a statue up of Matt Campbell at some point in time in the future because he’s done more for Iowa State football than anybody ever has,” Pollard said when asked about the newest Nittany Lion head coach, per video from Shannon Ehrhardt of KCCI. “And, although I’m disappointed that he’s leaving, it’s not my right to decide what is right for Matt Campbell and his family at this point in time. That’s a very personal decision for him.”

“I will always feel indebted to Matt Campbell for what he did for all of us. He showed us what this place really has for potential.”

Throughout his 10 years at Iowa State, Campbell has turned down multiple head coaching opportunities, including head coaching jobs in the NFL. Pollard said that there were personal reasons that Campbell and his wife, Erica, believed that this was the best time for them to explore other opportunities.

“This was entirely a personal decision that he was wrestling with about, is this the time to go home? He’s got a mother that’s got cancer. Erica’s mother has been sick. So, to be able to go home, their oldest daughter, Katie, is going to school in college next year out in [Washington, D.C.].”

During his time with the Cyclones, Campbell went 72-55. After posting a 3-9 season his first year in charge, he had winning seasons in eight of the following nine years, including a win in the Fiesta Bowl over Oregon in 2020.

“He’s had an amazing run as our football coach, and didn’t get to do it in front of his family and friends. He had other times he could’ve left, and he chose not to. Matt Campbell owes Iowa State nothing. Because he did more than we could’ve ever, ever dreamed he would do as our head coach.”