Iowa State AD fights back tears after Matt Campbell departs for Penn State coaching job

Iowa State diversion manager Jamie Pollard fought backmost tears erstwhile talking astir Matt Campbell leaving the schoolhouse to instrumentality the Penn State caput coaching job.

Pollard, 60, said that helium was sad, but that Campbell does not beryllium Iowa State anything.

"You’re sad. But, you cognize what, I get it," Pollard said to reporters Friday. "I’ve done this agelong enough. These jobs are hard, and we marque sacrifices that fans volition ne'er understand. We do. And he’s had an astonishing tally arsenic our shot coach, and didn’t get to bash it successful beforehand of his household and friends. He had different times helium could person left, and helium chose not to."

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Iowa State Cyclones caput manager Matt Campbell reacts during the 4th fourth against BYU astatine Jack Trice Stadium. The crippled took spot successful Ames, Iowa, connected Oct. 25, 2025. (IMAGN)

"Matt Campbell, though, owes Iowa State thing due to the fact that helium did much than we could’ve ever, ever dreamed helium would bash arsenic our caput coach. So yeah, a leafage turns. But nary of america are present forever. Life goes on, and truthful that’s however I conscionable viewed it. … the prima volition travel up successful the east, similar it does each morning, and we’ll spell on."

Penn State announced Campbell arsenic its caller caput manager connected Friday, pending committee support connected Monday.

PENN STATE TO HIRE IOWA STATE'S MATT CAMPBELL AS NEXT HEAD COACH: REPORTS

Iowa State University diversion manager Jamie Pollard speaks astatine a quality league successful Ames, Iowa, connected Sept. 24, 2019. (IMAGN)

The 46-year-old is the winningest manager in Iowa State history. The three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year went 72-55 successful 10 seasons with the Cyclones, with 8 winning seasons, including this 1 astatine 8-4. 

Campbell helped pb Iowa State to 2 Big 12 title crippled appearances.

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Prior to coaching astatine Iowa State, Campbell was the caput manager astatine Toledo for 5 seasons, wherever helium went 35-15. 

Penn State hired Campbell astir 2 months aft the programme fired James Franklin. 

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