Penn State's Taylor Mouser Brings Unique Football Background to OC Role

New Lions OC was a small-school defensive end before transitioning to offense

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Penn State's new offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser had an unusual path to his current role. Mouser was a defensive end at Division II Adams State in college before transitioning to the offensive side of the ball as a coach. He followed head coach Matt Campbell from Iowa State to Penn State, where he will now call plays and coach the tight ends.

Why it matters

Mouser's background as a defensive player provides him with a unique perspective that could benefit Penn State's offense. His experience working under Campbell, who also played defensive line in college before becoming an offensive coach, suggests he has developed a well-rounded understanding of the game.

The details

Mouser was a 6-1, 235-pound edge rusher at Adams State, where he recorded 11 tackles for loss and 5 sacks in his final season. After graduating, he followed a similar path to his new boss, Matt Campbell, working as a graduate assistant at Toledo before joining Campbell's staff at Iowa State. Over 10 seasons with the Cyclones, Mouser held various offensive coaching roles, including offensive coordinator in 2024 when the team averaged over 31 points per game.

  • Mouser was the offensive coordinator at Iowa State for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
  • Mouser joined Penn State's staff in December 2025 after Campbell was hired as the new head coach.

The players

Taylor Mouser

Penn State's new offensive coordinator, who previously served in the same role at Iowa State.

Matt Campbell

Penn State's head coach, who also played defensive end in college before transitioning to offense as a coach.

Jaylin Noel

Iowa State wide receiver who had a 1,000-yard season in 2024 under Mouser's offense.

Jayden Higgins

Iowa State wide receiver who also had a 1,000-yard season in 2024 under Mouser's offense.

Rocco Becht

Iowa State's quarterback in 2024, who threw for 3,505 yards and 25 touchdowns in Mouser's offense.

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What they’re saying

“I think when you watch the success we've been able to have offensively over the last two years, especially with the type of teams we had at Iowa State, I think no matter who we played, where we played ... I think we really gave ourselves great opportunity to have great success offensively.”

— Matt Campbell, Penn State Head Coach (pennlive.com)

“There's going to be a time where we're going to have to win the game 9-7 and we're going to have to play to the defense. And there's going to be times where you've got to go win and you've got to win (42-41). We played Miami two years ago in the (Pop-Tarts) bowl game and had to win (42-41), and you've got to make the critical calls in the moment.”

— Taylor Mouser, Penn State Offensive Coordinator (pennlive.com)

What’s next

Mouser will look to bring his high-powered offensive approach to Penn State, where he will have the opportunity to work with a talented roster and continue developing as a play-caller at the highest level of college football.

The takeaway

Mouser's unique background as a former defensive player provides him with a well-rounded understanding of the game that could benefit Penn State's offense. His success at Iowa State suggests he is ready for the challenge of coordinating the Nittany Lions' attack, and his partnership with head coach Matt Campbell could pay dividends for the program.