Iowa State Cyclones football head coach Matt Campbell high-fives fans as he takes the field before the game against Texas Tech at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
ORLANDO, Fla. — New contract, same vision.
Amid all the confounding changes in college football, Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell’s leaning into his program’s long-standing strength: Stability.
“I know I’m not perfect, and I know Iowa State’s not always perfect in terms of how we play football,” said Campbell, who earlier this month agreed to a new, eight-year contract that extends through 2032. “But I think how we’ve tried to play, and the spirit that our kids have played with, and the ability to give our football program success here, and something for this fan base to believe in every Saturday — I’m really proud of that.”
Terms of the new deal will be disclosed at a later date, but it’s clear that Campbell, director of athletics Jamie Pollard, and Iowa State University president Wendy Wintersteen share the same long-term goals for an 18th-ranked Cyclones team (10-3) that will play No. 13 Miami (10-2) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday (ABC) in the Pop-Tarts Bowl at Camping World Stadium.
“Just getting back home and playing in Florida is a big thing,” said ISU’s second-team All-Big 12 cornerback Jontez Williams, who grew up about two hours north of Orlando in Starke, Fla. “I’m just ready for the moment.”
Williams and his compatriots will try to slow down the Hurricanes’ scoring offense, which leads the FBS at 44.2 points per game. He’ll listen intently to veteran defensive coordinator Jon Heacock and his position coach, Hank Poteat, in order to make that possible.
And speaking of stability — Heacock’s the rock-steady example of it among Campbell’s staff, as he’s been with him for 10-plus seasons, first at Toledo, then at ISU.
“When we walked into this place nine years ago, (our goal) was we wanted to make this place special,” said Heacock, whose defense will be down one starter because junior defensive end Tyler Onyedim unexpectedly entered the transfer portal recently. “We wanted to make this place different than it’s ever been, and we’ve worked really hard to do that. And for me, the best thing that could happen would be for these seniors who’ve led this team these last couple years (to go out with a win). They certainly deserve everything they’ve got. We didn’t handle our business (in the Big 12 title game), and we’ve got one more chance. We’ve got one more chance to handle it the right way and it’s gonna take everything we’ve got with the team that we’re playing against.”
But first the Cyclones will fully lean into that internal stability, which exists on both sides of the ball. First-year offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser’s been a staffer back to the Toledo days, and defensive line coach Eli Rasheed’s been along for the ride with Campbell his entire head coaching career. So the continuity is strong, which allows ISU to seek out prospective players who “fit” the program, whether as developmental players or via the portal.
Campbell depends on the former more than the latter, because at his core, he considers himself a teacher and mentor above all else. That’s why his vision never changes even as college football experiences seismic shifts and looming roster size limits. He’s found his niche — and he’s thriving within it.
For the past several seasons, at least.
“No matter what, or when, it’s time to take a step back from coaching, I feel like I can look myself in the mirror and say, ‘You know what? We at least tried every single day we walked in here to make everybody proud of what this program was about,’” Campbell said. “And we tried to do it the right way.”
