(University Park, PA) — On Monday morning — an hour after Jimmy Rogers was introduced as the new football head coach at Iowa St. — Penn St. had a press conference to introduce Matt Campbell as their new football head coach. Campbell replaces James Franklin who was fired back on October 12 after three straight losses to Oregon, UCLA and Northwestern.
Campbell was born in Massillon, Ohio and is well familiar with the Penn St. football program — his parents and grandparents were huge Penn St. fans. Campbell got emotional when he got to the podium saying it was a dream come true to be Head Coach Penn St. football
Campbell also got emotional when talking about what he leaves behind at Iowa St.
Campbell said he sought advice from another former Iowa St. head coach who left Ames for Happy Valley — wrestling Head Coach Cael Sanderson
Campbell says that he wanted former Interim Coach Terry Smith to stay on his staff — the two already knew each other — and Smith has a agreed to remain with Penn St. Campbell says that he will have conversations with every other member of the coaching staff and he most certainly wants to bring assistants from Iowa St. to Penn St. Campbell does say that Derek Hoodjer who was the Cyclones Football General Manager will join him at Penn St. in a similar position
Campbell will not coach Penn St. in their upcoming bowl game and will instead try to “stay out of the way” as Terry Smith directs the team against Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl.
