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Penn State Welcomes New Football Coach Matt Campbell
Coach Campbell discusses his first two months leading the Nittany Lions program.
Feb. 4, 2026 at 11:55am
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Penn State's new football head coach Matt Campbell met with reporters for the first time since his introductory press conference in December. Campbell discussed the whirlwind of the past two months, including unifying the existing roster, adding 55 new players, assembling his coaching staff, and preparing the team for the upcoming season through winter conditioning and spring football.
Why it matters
As one of the most prominent college football programs in the country, Penn State's new head coaching hire is a significant event that will shape the future direction of the team and impact the school's passionate fan base. Campbell's vision and approach will be closely watched as he looks to return the Nittany Lions to national prominence.
The details
In his opening remarks, Campbell emphasized his focus on aligning the team around a shared set of values and a commitment to the growth and development of the players. He noted the challenge of quickly assembling a 55-player recruiting class while also integrating the existing roster. Campbell highlighted the importance of building a coaching staff that shares his philosophy of transformational leadership and a passion for mentoring student-athletes.
- Over the last two months, Campbell has been working to unify the Penn State football team and build his coaching staff.
- The team is currently three and a half weeks into their winter conditioning program, with spring football practices on the horizon.
The players
Matt Campbell
The new head football coach at Penn State University, hired in December 2025 to lead the Nittany Lions program.
What they’re saying
“The beginning part was trying to unify and align a football team. Put a lot of time and effort into the Penn State roster. Then 55 additions to build this team this season. Went with a mentality of not wavering from who they want this team to be. Young men that love football. Young men that love Penn State. And young men that understand the values of an education here.”
— Matt Campbell, Head Football Coach
“The second piece has been putting a staff togeteher. Similar value system. Men that understand the value of the growth and development of a team. Guys with a great passion to teeach 18-22 year olds. And understanding this is bigger. This is a transformational journey. Having staff that is aligned to those goals.”
— Matt Campbell, Head Football Coach
What’s next
The team will continue their winter conditioning program over the next few weeks before transitioning into spring football practices.
The takeaway
Coach Campbell's early focus on unifying the team, building a staff that shares his vision, and emphasizing the holistic development of student-athletes signals a commitment to establishing a strong culture and sustainable success at Penn State.
