Since 2026
Three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year who built Iowa State into a consistent winner (11-3 in 2024, Pop-Tarts Bowl champion). Hired after a chaotic 54- day search in which Penn State was reportedly turned down by Kalani Sitake, Kalen DeBoer, and several other top targets before landing Campbell.
Record & context
Lifetime record107–70 (15 seasons, Toledo & Iowa State)
Current program1st season at Penn State
Years in system—
ATS contextNo single published career ATS figure Penn State fired James Franklin on Oct. 12, 2025 at 3-3 (0-3 Big Ten) after entering the season ranked No. 2 in the AP preseason poll — the first team since 1978 to lose consecutive games favored by 20+ points in each. Interim Terry Smith went 1-3 the rest of the way.
Previous season3-6 under Franklin/interim Terry Smith (final record not
Compensation
Salary$8.0M
SourceCoach salary per Penn State's released term sheet (8-yr, $70.5M fully guaranteed, escalating to $9.25M by 2031). NIL figure is a third-party estimate reported by Matt Fortuna (Insi
Designationreported
Confidence—
Figures are labeled by designation. Estimated values are not official contract terms.