Athletic Article About Coach Campbell

[farm85]

https://theathletic.com/1813453/2020/05/14/matt-campbell-iowa-state-first-job-bowling-green/

Very interesting & good article. I know you need a subscription so I apologize for that.

Here is a portion of the article:
Matt Campbell once sent his résumé to every Division I school. This was back in early 2003, so he had to send them in the mail. You were lucky, he said, if you could find a coach’s email address at the time. Campbell remembers keeping a box of every rejection letter he received that winter. Some might hold on to those for motivational purposes, but that wasn’t really his intent.

“I think I kept them just because the letterheads, man, they were pretty cool,” he said.

 

[Mtowncyclone13]

Can you give us the rundown of the article?

 

[jdoggivjc]

Keeping rejection letters because the letterhead is cool. Sounds like something I would do, the pack rat I am.

Kind of wish Athletic wasn't a pay site. I know it's quality sports journalism, It's just yet another subscription I don't want to pay for.

 

[CrossCyed]

Keeping rejection letters because the letterhead is cool. Sounds like something I would do, the pack rat I am.

Kind of wish Athletic wasn't a pay site. I know it's quality sports journalism, It's just yet another subscription I don't want to pay for.

It's worth it. Also, if you know someone else with a subscription I believe they can invite you to a trial subscription.

 

[SEIOWA CLONE]

Keeping rejection letters because the letterhead is cool. Sounds like something I would do, the pack rat I am.

Kind of wish Athletic wasn't a pay site. I know it's quality sports journalism, It's just yet another subscription I don't want to pay for.

They have discounts all the time and teaser rates. My first year was 2 bucks a month. Well worth it.

But back to the Campbell article, basically its a piece telling how he broke into coaching. I was left with the impression that the two most important things in being successful, was working hard at your job, quickly followed by the people that you meet, and how they can help you down the road.
Coaching like a lot of professions is a very small fraternity, so as people advance in their career, they tend to hire people that they worked with and respected in former jobs.
Being in the right place at the right time, and knowing someone that is willing to help you, is ALMOST as important as the X and O's.

 

[KnappShack]

I think I paid $12 for the year.

It's worth it.

 

[jmb]

They have discounts all the time and teaser rates. My first year was 2 bucks a month. Well worth it.

But back to the Campbell article, basically its a piece telling how he broke into coaching. I was left with the impression that the two most important things in being successful, was working hard at your job, quickly followed by the people that you meet, and how they can help you down the road.
Coaching like a lot of professions is a very small fraternity, so as people advance in their career, they tend to hire people that they worked with and respected in former jobs.
Being in the right place at the right time, and knowing someone that is willing to help you, is ALMOST as important as the X and O's.

I have wondered of the guys on this staff how many are future head coaches?

 

[Kurttr]

It's worth it. Also, if you know someone else with a subscription I believe they can invite you to a trial subscription.

Quick summary - trails MC's early coaching career, the breaks on how it got going, his humble beginnings but that he really treasures, the great staff at Bowling Green when he started...all the things that make him a great coach for ISU.

The Athletic - well worth the $, unless you have no interest in pro sports or little for college sports other than ISU. Otherwise, it's like a much, much better version of Sports Illustrated back in the day when it had great articles. You determine the sports/teams that are fed to you.

 

[Javinegli]

He really seemed to love the GA position, when all he had to do is learn the game of football.

As far as a subscription, it depends on how you follow pro sports or betting. Their specific pro coverage is excellent. Weekly mailbags are fun too.

 

[ISUChippewa]

Beat me to the punch. I was about to copy and paste the link.

Great story about CMC's beginnings and his background.

And I also encourage anyone who enjoys good sports journalism to check out The Athletic. Once my Sports Illustrated subscription runs out (which will be a sad moment no matter how far and steep the fall has been for them), it will absolutely be my go-to sports site, although it already is in a lot of respects.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Keeping rejection letters because the letterhead is cool. Sounds like something I would do, the pack rat I am.

Kind of wish Athletic wasn't a pay site. I know it's quality sports journalism, It's just yet another subscription I don't want to pay for.

I still have the rejection and acceptance letters from every college I applied to. I still have the recruiting letters that I got in HS. They were really cool.

 

[Clonedogg]

I had a roommate that was an assistant HS FB coach. He would apply to every D1 school for a Grad Asst position...I think just for the rejection letter heads and kept them in a box.

 

[MartyFine]

Can you give us the rundown of the article?

The Process. Trust it.

Also, worked with a good staff at BG which included Mick McCall year after Urban left...

 

[SpokaneCY]

CMC is a cool example of "success". Some people fall into it but he's the lesson where hard work, attention to detail and a plan you stick to creates that environment for success. Mix in a little luck, a few breaks here and there and we'll have something cooking.

 

[Cycsk]

Articles like this are why I subscribe to The Athletic. Max Olson is a good researcher and writer. He took some time and must have spent some good time with Campbell to put this together.

Love his father's advice when he was complaining about his situation. ‘Listen, shut up and do your job. Somebody’s butt is on the line. You gotta remember the head coach is going through a lot of different things, and your responsibility is to serve the head coach. Do your job to the best of your ability and everything will work out.’

Learned that he turned down a GA opportunity with Ohio State. Glad to know that he has been practicing his rejection of their offers.

Quotes a coaching friend who says coaches are migrant workers masquerading as millionaires.

Surprised the article mentioned McCall, but didn't talk about him being back with Campbell now.

 

[Aclone]

One thing I got out of it was all of his extensive experience figuring out issues with offenses, and making them more explisive.

In other words, if you think Matt Campbell’s choice for an OC doesn’t know what he’s doing, you’re nuts.

 

[SEIOWA CLONE]

Articles like this are why I subscribe to The Athletic. Max Olson is a good researcher and writer. He took some time and must have spent some good time with Campbell to put this together.

Love his father's advice when he was complaining about his situation. ‘Listen, shut up and do your job. Somebody’s butt is on the line. You gotta remember the head coach is going through a lot of different things, and your responsibility is to serve the head coach. Do your job to the best of your ability and everything will work out.’

Learned that he turned down a GA opportunity with Ohio State. Glad to know that he has been practicing his rejection of their offers.

Quotes a coaching friend who says coaches are migrant workers masquerading as millionaires.

Surprised the article mentioned McCall, but didn't talk about him being back with Campbell now.

It stated that Campbell had hired McCall for the RB coach position.

Those coaches didn’t have to help him like they did, and that’s what means so much. Campbell is still thanking them to this day. In January, he was able to hire McCall as the Cyclones’ running backs coach. He did so because he knew his mentor will make not just their players but also their young coaches better.

 

[Cycsk]

It stated that Campbell had hired McCall for the RB coach position.
.

You're right. I missed it the first time. It didn't seem like the kind of thing this writer would leave out in an article loaded with coaching connection trivia.