Matt Campbell, born November 29, 1979, is a prominent American college football coach currently serving as the head coach at Iowa State University, a position he has held since 2016. He played defensive line at the University of Mount Union from 1999 to 2002, where he was a two-time All-American and contributed to three NCAA Division III national championships. Campbell excelled academically as well, earning Academic All-America honors and later being inducted into Mount Union’s Hall of Fame in 2018[1][3][6]. Campbell began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Bowling Green before returning to Mount Union as offensive coordinator, helping win two more national titles. He later moved to Toledo University, initially as an assistant, before becoming the youngest FBS head coach in 2011 at age 32. At Toledo, he compiled a 35–15 record with three nine-win seasons and multiple bowl victories, including the 2011 Military Bowl and 2015 GoDaddy Bowl[1][2][5]. Since taking over at Iowa State, Campbell has transformed the football program into a competitive Big 12 contender. He is the winningest coach in Iowa State history, surpassing previous records with a 64-51 record over nearly a decade, and holds the best winning percentage in school history. Under his leadership, the Cyclones achieved multiple Top 25 rankings, their first double-digit win season in 133 years (11–3 in 2024), and frequent Big 12 Championship Game appearances. Campbell has been named Big 12 Coach of the Year three times (2017, 2018, 2020) and is known for instilling a culture of preparation, discipline, and accountability[1][2][4][5]. Campbell’s coaching style emphasizes high standards, fierce effort, and routine, drawing from his upbringing in a coaching family and his formative years under legendary Mount Union coach Larry Kehres. He is widely recognized as a program-changer who has elevated Iowa State football to sustained success and national relevance[4][5][6].