Live updates: Penn State head coach Matt Campbell introductory press conference
Penn State is introducing its new head football coach, Matt Campbell, in a press conference on Monday afternoon from the Beaver Stadium media room.
Follow along with live updates, here:
Live updates: Penn State head coach Matt Campbell introductory press conference
(Press conference has ended at 12:59 p.m.)
Relationship with Penn State
12/08/2025 11:57:35 AMHas never been here. Has never met James, Bill, or Joe.
Todd Blackledge and his father meant so much to him. Grandparents are two of the greatest humans in his life. The pride they took in Penn State football and Coach Paterno. Knows they’re at Linebacker U, might as well be running back U, and go down the line.
James, coach O’Brien, haven’t met them. Not the guy that came up like some of those guys. Knows they’re great men and did a great job for Penn State.
General manager role
12/08/2025 11:55:17 AMPat – Thinks it’s critical to the space. Recruiting young men and that’s why this hire is so important. GM is critical and important factor to success of the program moving forward. Scouting high school, every college team, it is comprehensive. Had the conversation about building that to get right talent and people on board. GM is an important part, and as you build that department out, it’s critical.
Campbell – Have had to be in what some of the blue blood programs didn’t. Had to be better evaluators because only shot was being before everyone. Had to create their own collective. Had a great GM in Derek Hoodjer. Had to build all those things from scratch and it allows them to come and partner with Pat. Derek evolved into the role. Really lucky. Derek is one of the absolute bright minds in all of football and is already here with them. Derek’s role will be exactly what Pat said. Need to build great team under him. Player acquisition and retention staff.
Nick Siriani
12/08/2025 11:52:13 AMThat experience they had as players, and they were coaches together there for a year, won a championship together. The doctorate came because they had the humility of a leader that demanded to teach them everything he knew. Opportunity to grow as coaches, fail at times, but get better was so rewarding. Anyone in coaching today is so grateful. What that man has accomplished, nobody has accomplished in football. Incredible relationship with Nick. Had it through coaching careers. Through ups and downs, together. Uniquely, on Thursday morning got a million texts from Nick. To have him so close, would fly out there and spend time with him. Takes credit for the Super Bowl a few years ago. Watched Saquon, and first three practices, sees two incredible tackles, and Saquon. And how that guy practiced every day he was there. When he walked off the field, told Nick he needed to win a Super Bowl with that player. That family has been great to Campbell.
Role for this team
12/08/2025 11:48:39 AMNot be a hindrance. Respect for Terry and seniors on this team, winning four in a row would be huge. Will figure out with Terry how to not be a hindrance to this team. Allows him to build for ’26. And allow the relationship piece. Will have to walk a fine line because it’ll be a unique challenge. Doesn’t have the total answer. Will work through it day by day.
Recruiting and portal philosophy
12/08/2025 11:47:28 AMOne of the great reasons being here is you’re in the most fertile ground of excellence of high school football in a 6-8 hour radius. Everything starts with that recruiting territory. No one will attack more than them.
Then you look at the portal, they have a process, know what they’re looking for, and will have to use it to supplement the team. But no one will be better than them developing high school football players. The flash of the stars is cool on signing day, but winning games on Saturday is what they’re about, and that’s development.
The financial aspect is unique. One of the great things they have here is the sacrifice Pat and his team have made to give yourself the chance to be successful at the highest level. Finances can’t be No. 1. Want players who want to be at Penn State and win championships at Penn State.
Embracing challenges of national championships
12/08/2025 11:44:30 AMScars are your super power. If you’re humble enough to grow through success and failure, you continue to put yourself in position to be the best. When you stop growing, failure drips in. Have always had championship expectations. From his end, your scars build you for these moments if you use them wisely. Have had great moments, great learning lessons, and has confidently prepared him to build the greatest football program in the country.
Discussions of who will stay, go, and portal
12/08/2025 11:43:01 AMIt’s critically important. First thing is to get to know the young men in the program. If you want to win, trust has to resonate from top to bottom in the program. Starts with player/coach relationship. Wants to get through the whole staff tomorrow. Then every player the next 4/5 days individually. You have to get the information, be curious, ask the questions and get to know them. Will have a great plan no matter when the time comes.
Leaked audio of Pat Kraft
12/08/2025 11:41:23 AMVery passionate and transparent with athletes. Embarrassed by it. Apologizes to anyone he may have offended by the leak. It’s been challenging for him. But is very passsionate about Penn State. Nine or 10 players that asked for an open and honest discussion. But fell short for his staff, the athletes he represents. Can’t apologize enough for those he may have offended. Needs to get better. But every athlete knows they can call and have open and honest conversations with him anytime they want. Proud of the guys and excited for them to move forward.
Commitment to Terry
12/08/2025 11:39:36 AM
Kraft: Terry is Penn State. Made him the interim coach who could unify the team and get them to play their best. The Terry decision was a no-brainer. And that’s a testament to Terry. Has the best coach in the country in Campbell, and a partner for him who is the best of Penn State. Feels great about chances moving forward. That piece speaks to them both. Terry incredible through the process. No brainer and easy.
Campbell: Critically important for him to keep Terry. Has a great relationship from Gateway. Knows what he’s about. Building a staff is so critical because you have to build it around the things you want to stand for. Was watching the Penn State/Nebraska game, and the intensity and character of how this team played. As soon as they got into this discussion, told Pat he’d like to keep Terry and it was a yes. Knowing what it means to play and coach and lead here is huge for him.
The rest of the staff, will spend the next few days. What’s reported right now is not all true. If you want a championship team, need a championship staff. Want to talk to everyone in house, then talk to players, then fill out the staff. Knows there are some he wants to bring from Iowa State, for sure. But will do that when appropriate.
For Campbell, apprehension about the public nature about this
12/08/2025 11:36:17 AMLoves the Iowa State kids. Those kids believed and stayed with Matt Campbell. Would be lying if not acknowledging that. Erica slapped him in the head and said this is right. Continued down the journey and found it’s the right fit for them.
For Kraft, timeline
12/08/2025 11:34:54 AM
There could probably be a Netflix documentary at some point. Matt and him got to know each other through some twists and turns in the road. Needed a partner. Needs a leader for this role and institution. As things went around, had a late night phone call banging head against a wall, why did it take so long to find each other. He was perfect and they connected on so many levels. Woke wife up and said he’s the guy. A lot of turns, and appreciates media putting things out that were true and not true, but they got the guy to take the program back to being the best in the country.
Question for Campbell: Why Penn State, why now
12/08/2025 11:33:13 AM
Started in the game drinking from a fire hose. Came out of COVID and one of the things that gave him perspective, you better have some priorities in life. If you’re going to leave or move, it better be about family. 2 1/2 hours from home. To have his family and wife’s family be part of this journey means a lot.
Be around great people. If going to lead, want to be around the best. One conversation with Pat, one conversation with Neeli, and wanting to be the best.
And what do you want to stand for? Never wanted to be the coach to jump from job to job. If to leave Iowa State, wanted to stand for something bigger than him. Found that, and couldn’t be more humble and grateful for it.
Matt Campbell remarks
12/08/2025 11:30:44 AMHumbled, honored, grateful to be standing in front of everyone. World class university. One of the greatest football programs in the world. The last five days have been a whirlwind. This full circle moment. All you heard about in Massilon Ohio was Todd Blackledge. To understand all he stood for. Spending so much time in Pennsylvania. All you heard around those family discussions was Coach Paterno, the character and toughness of the Penn State football program. To the 16 year old being recruited, and you couldn’t stop watching Kyle Brady and wanting to be like that guy.
It’s a dream come true. One of the greatest honors of his life. Couldn’t be more thankful to be here.
Culture rises and falls with great leadership. From the moment this process started, could feel excellence of leadership at this great university. Dr. Bendapudi is authentic, care, and believes excellence at every crevice of this university. Will promise to represent that with everything he has.
Kraft: Loves he demands excellence. Vision and work ethic is incredible. Team around him. Best athletic department in college athletics. Demanding the same every time he walks in that facility.
To Nittany Nation: Demanding a similar standard of excellence of the last great Iowa State coach to come here. Spent time with Cael two nights ago. Talked about similar journeys. Have watched him from afar, understanding excellence.
Aso thanks Governor Shapiro. His words of encouragement through the process was incredible. For him to call Thursday night and talk about what this institution means to Pennsylvania. Will make Pennsylvania proud.
Have to thank Iowa State. The hardest thing was to leave the great people at Iowa State who took a chance on him. Jamie Pollard gave him a chance at 36 years old to do something that hadn’t been done there. Built a staff on caring. To build great men of character. To stand for what’s right on and off the field. Can’t thank players enough for trusting him for 10 years every day. Their belief, to stay the course. One of hardest moments of his life having to leave those players on Friday night. But knows in their 10 years, they rewrote history. Every step of the way. From 3-9, to the greatest era of Iowa State history. THanks to fans for making it about serving the community. Had a 3.4 GPA on the team the last two years. Showed when it got hard. Ability to respond was about how players were ready for it.
To football mentors: His father, to grow up with a HS football coach, being on the sidelines for two a days and watch him impact and inspire young men. Taught them work ethic. HS coach, one of greatest mentors. Walked in as a 16 year old and left at 18 having learned the values of attitude and effort. And then playing with a coach to win three national championships at Mount Union. No one could figure it out, but it was faith, family, and football. Has allowed him to live his life the right way.
The greatest blessing in life is his family. This is awesome, but greatest win is sitting in front of him. Erica is his rock. Has been through a lot and not easy, but most selfless human he’s ever met. For Katie and Izzy, 18, and 16, who they’ve become, allowing him to do this. And two Rudy and Rocco, talking about Courtney Brown and Kerry Collins. This was a family decision. Weren’t going to surround themselves with anything but great people.
Talk about his mother. One of the toughest and great humans in his life. Opportunity to be 2 1/2 hours from their doorstep. She’s an educator and public servants. Got the greatest of both parents. Erica’s parents.
Matt Campbell remarks
12/08/2025 11:30:10 AM
Coach Terry Smith. Knew him when he was at Gateway and he was at Toledo. Always such an inspiring person to be around. Loved recruiting his players because you knew what they stood for and it was more than just football. So amazing to watch him lead through tough times. The cornerstone of this program as a player, coach, and his honor to work with him moving forward.
Coach Franklin and what he built at Penn State, the utmost respect. Bill O’Brien. His responsibility to build on the values of those great men.
Excited to meet with the players today. The greatest climb in life is the climb back. To watch them on a three-game winning streak has been inspiring. Have this great opportunity to win four in a row for seniors and future of the program, momentum for ’26. Can’t wait to be in their lives.
To Penn State lettermen: Walked into Lasch yesterday and could feel goosebumps, these incredible names. Some of the best ever to play football. Excellence and what they stood for. The sacrifice to become the best and have some of the greatest teams in history of college football. Responsibility to link arms, unify, and continue to push this program to the greatest heights he’s seen. Knows what he’s inheriting. Can’t wait to unify everyone.
To fans, alumni, student body: Loyalty to Penn State football resonates all over the country. It’s one of the greatest environments in the world of football. His mission to make them proud of how they do things.
In life, change happens. Change is inevitable. Adversity happens. It’s coming. Always is. But greatness and how to respond to adversity is a choice. Will wake up every day in this program building championship habits, every day, from ground up, in a program that demands mental and physical toughness. Discipline at every corner. And togetherness. Selflessness and togetherness. One team, one program, unified to continue the great pride and tradiiton of Penn State football.
Pat Kraft opening remarks
12/08/2025 11:14:08 AM
Thanks to Neeli Bendapudi, great leader for him. David Kleppinger. Presidents council. Michael Wade Smith. Unwavering support and belief in what’s right for Penn State.
It’s a journey, but everyone did a remarkable job holding down the fort to get where they are today. It takes everyone. Appreciate the student-athletes. Excited to finish this season against Clemson in New York. Remarkable to see them handling adversity this year.
Appreciative to Nittany Nation. Best, most passionate fans in the world. Grateful and thankful for them.
Over the past several weeks, the community has been tested, challenged, and reminded that football is woven into the fabric of this institution. Through the process found the right person to lead this storied program. Penn State football emerges tougher, clearer, and more driven than ever berore. A leader: Builder, fighter, standard bearer of what this can be at its very best. A coach committed to building complete men. Mind, body, character, purpose. Believes greatness is forged beyond the practice fields. Cultivates leaders, scholars, teammates, and future fathers who carry Penn State values the rest of their lives.
Matt Campbell one of the most respected coaches in the country and has earned that. Hard nosed, humble, relentless. Built for championships.
Embraces expectations. Fans, the absolute best in the country, deserve a team that plays with fire, passion, and purpose. Matt Campbell delivers that. He is here to unite the community, energize the locker room, and restore a championship mindset. Along with him, welcoming a new family to the community. They embody everything they value. Character, heart, commitment. Elite programs are built around great peoeple, and this is a great family they’re bringing here.
Make no mistake. Penn State football is once again a program that no one wants to see on their schedule. Honored, humbled, and excited for everyone to get to know coach.
Neeli Bendapudi opening statement
12/08/2025 11:02:48 AM
Principles discussed at Penn State, are bringing in exceptional leaders who share their values. For that reason, thrilled to welcome coach Matt Campbell. Equally honored to welcome his family to Penn State.
Knew immediately they had the right person. He has a special ability and track record of building and elevating winning programs, culture and people. Determination developing elite athletes and young men who excel acadmically, personally, and professionally. Men who are better people for having been coached by him.
People speak so highly of him. Thank you to Pat Kraft for leading the successful search to find the right leader for Penn State. Need to acknowledge the football team. The young men on the team make Penn State proud with resiliency, focus, commitment, and character, especially now during a difficult transition. Thanks to football staff. To donors, supporters, and fans. To administrative team for stepping up in a big way to get to this point. Thanks to the trustees to support and commitment to building a championship program.
Importantly, a special thank you to coach Terry Smith. For stepping up for Penn State and dedication to student-athletes.
Today ushers in a new day for Penn State, athletics, and flagship football program. High confidence in Campbell to deliver excellence on the field and off. Standing unwavering in commitment to integrity. Looking forward to lasting impact to Penn State.
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