The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications.
AMES, Iowa – The work of Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell was rewarded again by the American Football Coaches Association, earning AFCA Region 4 Coach of the Year for the second-straight season, the organization announced this morning.
Campbell, who has a 54-33 overall record in seven seasons as a head coach, led the Cyclones to one of their best seasons in school history, ending the regular season with an 8-4 record and a trip to the Valero Alamo Bowl vs. Washington State.
After beginning the season at 1-3, Campbell rallied his team to seven victories in the last eight games, tying for third in the Big 12 standings (6-3), the highest conference finish by a Cyclone team in 40 years.
ISU’s six Big 12 wins broke the school record for league victories in a season and the team went 6-1 at Jack Trice Stadium, tying the school record for most home wins in a season.
Campbell, who was honored as the 2018 Co-Coach of the Year, winning or sharing the award for the second-straight season, has steered the Cyclones into the national spotlight the last two seasons.
Iowa State’s 16 wins since 2017 ties for the best two-year winning stretch in school history and the Cyclones have appeared in the College Football Playoff rankings in each of the last two years.
The Cyclones are currently No. 25 in the Associated Press poll, the latest ISU has been ranked in the AP poll since 1976.
Iowa State, currently No. 24 in the CFP rankings, was rated in all six CFP polls during the 2018 campaign.
Campbell agreed to a one-year extension on his contract on Dec. 9 through 2024.