Following a coaching search that lasted 54 days, Penn State has found the successor to former head coach James Franklin.
Penn State is reportedly set to hire former Iowa State head coach for the same role with the Nittany Lions, according to The Athletics’ Ralph Russo and Chris Vannini.
Campbell spent the last decade at the helm of Iowa State, posting a 72-55 record with two Big 12 title game appearances (2020, 2024), a 2021 Fiesta Bowl win and a lone 11-win season in 2024.
Before his time with the Cyclones, Campbell spent five years at Toledo from 2011-15, where he racked up a 35–15 record over four seasons and a single bowl game in 2011, bringing the Rockets to back-to-back MAC championship games in 2014-15.
Across his time at Iowa State and Toledo, Campbell’s career head-coaching record stands at 107-70.
Penn State had just one losing season under Franklin, as the program earned a 104–45 record during his time there. Though after a 3-3 start to the 2025 season, Franklin was fired Oct. 12, paving the way for the Nittany Lions long coaching search.
Prior to landing on Campbell, Penn State also looked at Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule, Jeff Brohm of Louisville, Kalani Sataki of BYU, and former James Madison and now-UCLA head coach Bob Chesney.
According to On3, Penn State’s head coaching search has netted its then-potential candidates a whopping $370.8 million in earnings.
Image courtesy of Iowa State Athletics
