30 best college football coaching hires this century
By Nick Villano
26. Matt Campbell – Iowa State
Matt Campbell is a great coach. It’s that simple. Sometimes it’s that easy for athletic directors. Just get the best coach. Obviously, there’s recruiting and university representation that comes to mind, but Iowa State hit it on the nose with Matt Campbell.
Iowa State is a team that always struggled in the division. The only time they had a division title in the Big 12, they still had five losses. Those huge win streaks never came, but then Matt Campbell came through the doors.
Campbell has been a coach that has been tied to NFL jobs in the past, but he reportedly turned them down to stay in Ames to finish what he started. After five years at Iowa State, the Cyclones are getting the respect he seeks. They were ranked in the top 15 to start this season, but a few losses had them falling out of that ranking position. He brought some of the best players in the country here, including reigning rushing leader Breece Hall.
The Cyclones barely lost to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship Game last season. Who knows where they end up if they win that game, but they did enjoy a win over Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl. The best is yet to come for Iowa State thanks to Matt Campbell and what he’s bringing to the university.