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Penn State Officially Hires Matt Campbell as Head Coach
Matt Campbell, hired after a 54-day search, signed an eight-year deal with $70.5 million guaranteed and will retain interim coach Terry Smith on his staff.
- On Dec. 8, 2025, Penn State announced the hiring of Matt Campbell as new head football coach, with the compensation committee of the Board of Trustees approving an eight-year contract.
- After James Franklin was fired in October, then-acting athletic director Dave Joyner announced a six-person search committee on Nov. 28, ending a roughly two-month search tracked by Penn State fans and online flight trackers.
- Campbell's résumé includes ten seasons at Iowa State with a 72-55 record, two Big 12 championship games, and the 2020 Fiesta Bowl, plus a 35-15 record at Toledo with back-to-back MAC championship appearances.
- Penn State will retain Terry Smith as part of Campbell's staff and agreed to pay Iowa State University $2 million, while Campbell arrived Sunday at State College Regional Airport greeted by Pat Kraft and more than 100 fans.
- Penn State's recruiting picture is precarious, signing only two players for the 2026 class with no 2027 commitments, while Campbell's contract includes $500,000 CFP bonuses and $1 million national-title raises.
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Former UT coach Matt Campbell introduced as Penn State's 17th football coach
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — As he steadily built up Iowa State’s football program, former University of Toledo coach Matt Campbell regularly turned down other head coaching gigs until his dream job opened.
·Toledo, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources16
Leaning Left3Leaning Right1Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 38%
C 50%
12%
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