After 54 days of searching, Penn State football has found its next head coach. Matt Campbell, formerly the head coach at Iowa State, has been hired to lead the Nittany Lions, signing an eight-year contract with the program.
Following a disappointing 3-3 start to the season, Penn State made the difficult decision to part ways with James Franklin in October of 2025. While Franklin had his moments of success, Penn State football often struggled against top-ranked opponents, which kept the program from competing at the highest level.
“I think that firing James Franklin was a good decision for the team because we needed to win big games to get over the hump, and James Franklin could not do that,” sophomore Elin Fry said.
The lengthy coaching search surprised some students, especially with the anticipation surrounding who might take the job. Although Campbell may not have been the blockbuster name fans expected, many believe he has the tools to succeed in Happy Valley.
“I was shocked it took us this long to hire a football coach. I don’t think he was the big name everyone was imagining, but I think he will do a good job,” Penn State senior Grace Doyle said.
As Campbell arrives, students understand that rebuilding a program does not happen overnight, especially with roster changes and a new coaching staff.
“I feel like obviously they’re not going to win every game because a new coach is like a big step, but if they like have more wins and losses, and if he recruits good students who come here for four years and get them to stay, I feel that’s pretty good,” sophomore Kendall Schenck said.
One of the biggest expectations surrounding Campbell’s hire is improved performances in big games, an area where the program has fallen short.
“I hope that Penn State starts winning more big games against top 25 teams, and that can lead us to join the playoffs again and hopefully advance far,” Fry said.
Roster development is also a major concern, particularly after recent losses at key positions and commitment changes. Students are eager to see how Campbell approaches recruiting and player growth.
“I hope that he brings up good position players, such as a quarterback, wide receivers, and running backs, since we lost our two main running backs,” Fry said. “I hope that this further leads us to win more games, especially against bigger teams. And overall, just leads to good seasons where we make it into the playoffs.”
“I hope to see more growth in our program with recruits and commits. I’ve seen we’ve had a lot of Iowa State players flipping to us…I’m curious to see how his staff will change our program on both sides of the ball,” Doyle said.
As Matt Campbell steps into his new role, expectations remain high but realistic. While immediate success is not guaranteed, many believe his leadership could guide Penn State football toward a competitive future and hopefully a national championship.
