Penn State Football Close to Hiring New Head Coach

After nearly two months following James Franklin’s dismissal, Penn State appears to be on the verge of selecting a new head coach. Reports suggest that the Nittany Lions plan to hire Matt Campbell, currently the head coach of Iowa State, to fill the position left vacant by Franklin.

Negotiations between Campbell and Penn State University are reportedly progressing well, and they’ve received the necessary approvals concerning salary and terms. Campbell, 46, has made a significant impact in his tenure at Iowa State, becoming the winningest coach in the school’s history. Over ten seasons, he compiled a 72-55 record and twice led the team to the Big 12 Championship Game.

Before his successful run at Iowa State, Campbell coached Toledo for five seasons, where he held a 35-15 record. Penn State decided to part ways with Franklin after a disappointing stretch in which the team lost three consecutive games, starting with a home defeat to Oregon State, followed by tough losses to UCLA and Northwestern.

While Franklin had a notable record at Penn State, going 104-45 overall and winning several notable bowl games, the team never reached a national championship under his guidance. Following Franklin’s exit, Terry Smith has taken over as the interim coach and has a record of 3-3 in this role. Currently, Penn State stands at 6-6 this season, hoping for a positive change under Campbell’s leadership if the hiring goes through.