After a search exceeding 50 days, Penn State selected Matt Campbell as the program’s 17th full-time head coach. Campbell, a three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year and Iowa State’s winningest coach, arrives with a short list of immediate priorities, chief among them assembling a staff for the 2026 season. Some assistants from James Franklin’s 2025 staff could stay, while others may follow Franklin to Virginia Tech; reports already indicate former interim coach Terry Smith has been retained on a four-year deal. This piece examines key Iowa State assistants who are most likely to join Campbell in Happy Valley and what their hires would mean for the program.
Key Takeaways
- Matt Campbell was announced as Penn State’s head coach after a search of more than 50 days; he is the program’s 17th full-time head coach.
- Defensive coordinator Jon Heacock, 65, has worked with Campbell since Toledo and is widely reported as the top candidate to follow him to Penn State.
- Offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser was Iowa State’s playcaller in 2024–25; the Cyclones ranked 41st in scoring offense in 2024 and 60th in 2025.
- Defensive line coach Eli Rasheed helped develop All-American Will McDonald IV and contributed to a 33-sack season in 2021, an Iowa State program high-tying mark.
- Wide receivers coach Noah Pauley coached two 1,000-yard receivers in the same season and helped produce second- and third-round NFL draft picks in 2025.
- Offensive line coach Ryan Clanton oversaw a rushing attack that improved from 103rd to 51st nationally over three seasons and coached a 2025 fourth-round OL draftee.
- Cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat, a Harrisburg native, coached ISU’s secondary to a No. 1 national mark in pass defense in 2024 and solid interception totals in multiple seasons.
- Chief of staff Greg Brabenec manages operations, budgets and travel; his institutional knowledge dating to 2014 makes him a stabilizing presence during a staff transition.
Background
Penn State’s decision follows an extended coaching search that produced a high-profile hire in Matt Campbell, who left Ames after building Iowa State into a consistent competitor under resource constraints. Campbell’s tenure at Iowa State began in 2016 after previous success at Toledo; his staff there blended long-tenured assistants with recent internal promotions. The Cyclones’ rise included steady defensive finishes—five top-30 scoring defense results—and periodic offensive bursts led by position-group development.
Staff turnover is expected. Some members of James Franklin’s 2025 staff could be kept for continuity, while others may depart with Franklin to Virginia Tech. Campbell has signaled he values continuity in several fronts: reports indicate Terry Smith will remain on staff under a four-year agreement, and many of Campbell’s Iowa State aides have deep working relationships with him dating back to Toledo.
Main Event
Jon Heacock, Iowa State’s defensive coordinator, is widely viewed as the most likely assistant to follow Campbell to Happy Valley. Heacock’s résumé includes more than 40 years in college coaching, head coaching experience at Youngstown State and prior Big Ten roles at Purdue, Indiana and Michigan. His defense at ISU has generally been strong—Finishing no worse than 50th in scoring defense after the 2016 rebuild and delivering multiple top-30 finishes—though the Cyclones have struggled to generate consistent sacks and turnovers in recent seasons.
On offense, Taylor Mouser has risen through the staff after beginning as a graduate assistant in 2015. 2025 was his second season as offensive playcaller; Iowa State hovered in the national middle of the pack, producing a 41st-ranked scoring offense in 2024 that slipped to 60th in 2025. Mouser’s work with tight end Benjamin Brahmer—Big 12 Freshman of the Year and productive through 2025—underscores his role as a developer of skill talent.
Eli Rasheed, who has coached with Campbell since the Toledo days, has been central to the Cyclones’ run-defense and line development. Between 2017 and 2021 the group ranked between 39th and 65th in sacks per season and posted four top-25 rushing-defense finishes; 2021 saw a program-tying 33 sacks. Rasheed’s pupil list includes first-round pick Will McDonald IV and other high-level draft prospects.
Noah Pauley’s arrival in 2023 immediately impacted Iowa State’s receiver production: Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel combined for 1,000-yard seasons and were selected in the second and third rounds of the NFL Draft in 2025. Ryan Clanton’s offensive line work boosted the run game from 103rd to 51st over three seasons and produced an offensive lineman selected in the 2025 draft’s fourth round.
Analysis & Implications
Campbell’s likely staff choices signal a preference for continuity and familiarity. Bringing long-time lieutenants such as Heacock and Rasheed would preserve schematic philosophies—most notably Heacock’s base 3-3-5 defensive look that emphasizes cornerback and safety play. That continuity could smooth the transition for Penn State players adapting to new play-calling and practice structures, but integrating that scheme into the Big Ten East will require adjustments against power-run teams and gap-heavy offensive lines.
On offense, retaining or hiring coaches like Mouser and Clanton suggests Campbell values internal development and run-game balance. Mouser’s track record of advancing tight ends and coordinating a middle-of-the-pack offense fits a program seeking immediate competitiveness while adding Big Ten recruiting heft. Clanton’s history of improving rushing outcomes and coaching draftable linemen could be attractive to Penn State’s offensive line room and NFL visibility goals.
Recruiting and regional ties will shape decisions. Poteat’s Pennsylvania roots and regional recruiting connections could be particularly valuable in the Philadelphia and central Pennsylvania pipelines; similarly, Rasheed and Heacock’s Midwest recruiting footprints tie to Campbell’s established networks. Penn State’s national expectations mean hires will be evaluated for both immediate schematic fit and long-term recruiting upside.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Scoring offense (national) | 41st | 60th |
| Total offense (national) | 39th | 63rd |
| Plays of 20+ yards | 18th | 63rd |
| Sacks per game (since 2022) | No better than 111th (Cyclones) | |
The table highlights an offense that peaked in 2024 and dipped in 2025, while the pass-rush metrics point to a multi-year challenge. Historically, Rasheed’s earlier units (2017–2021) produced stronger sack totals and top-25 rushing defense finishes, showing the staff can achieve higher outcomes when player talent and continuity align.
Reactions & Quotes
“Heacock is viewed as a top candidate to join Campbell in the staff transition,”
Pete Nakos / On3 (reporting)
The On3 reporting cited Heacock’s long association with Campbell and the likelihood he would move to Penn State. That report has circulated among recruiting and coaching outlets as a primary indicator of how Campbell may staff his defensive room.
“[Brabenec] serves as the direct line of communication to the athletics administration and is in charge of all staff processes,”
Iowa State Athletics (staff bio)
Greg Brabenec’s official Iowa State biography describes his operational responsibilities; his role as chief of staff has been integral to day-to-day program logistics and could be especially valuable during a multi-personnel transition at Penn State.
Unconfirmed
- Heacock’s move to Penn State has been widely reported but not confirmed by Penn State or Iowa State as of publication.
- Which assistants from James Franklin’s 2025 Penn State staff will be retained under Campbell remains undecided and subject to official announcements.
Bottom Line
Matt Campbell’s arrival at Penn State sets the stage for a staff largely drawn from his Iowa State and Toledo relationships, with defensive continuity and offensive line/run-game emphasis likely priorities. Hiring long-standing lieutenants would preserve proven schemes but require adaptation to Big Ten East opponents and roster specifics at Penn State. Regional recruiting ties—particularly Pennsylvania connections like Hank Poteat—may factor heavily into final staff decisions as Campbell balances familiarity with local footprint needs.
Expect a phased rollout: reports and media coverage will firm into official announcements over the coming weeks. The composition of Campbell’s staff will shape not only the 2026 season’s immediate competitiveness but also long-term recruiting trajectories and schematic identity for Penn State football.