{"id":8118,"date":"2025-12-06T13:03:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-06T13:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/matt-campbell-iowa-state-staff\/"},"modified":"2025-12-06T13:03:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-06T13:03:00","slug":"matt-campbell-iowa-state-staff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/matt-campbell-iowa-state-staff\/","title":{"rendered":"Which Iowa State Staffers Could Join Matt Campbell at Penn State, Including a Harrisburg Native"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<p>After a search exceeding 50 days, Penn State selected Matt Campbell as the program\u2019s 17th full-time head coach. Campbell, a three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year and Iowa State\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Matt Campbell was announced as Penn State\u2019s head coach after a search of more than 50 days; he is the program\u2019s 17th full-time head coach.<\/li>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<li>Offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser was Iowa State\u2019s playcaller in 2024\u201325; the Cyclones ranked 41st in scoring offense in 2024 and 60th in 2025.<\/li>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<li>Cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat, a Harrisburg native, coached ISU\u2019s secondary to a No. 1 national mark in pass defense in 2024 and solid interception totals in multiple seasons.<\/li>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>Penn State\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u2019 rise included steady defensive finishes\u2014five top-30 scoring defense results\u2014and periodic offensive bursts led by position-group development.<\/p>\n<p>Staff turnover is expected. Some members of James Franklin\u2019s 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\u2019s Iowa State aides have deep working relationships with him dating back to Toledo.<\/p>\n<h2>Main Event<\/h2>\n<p>Jon Heacock, Iowa State\u2019s defensive coordinator, is widely viewed as the most likely assistant to follow Campbell to Happy Valley. Heacock\u2019s r\u00e9sum\u00e9 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\u2014Finishing no worse than 50th in scoring defense after the 2016 rebuild and delivering multiple top-30 finishes\u2014though the Cyclones have struggled to generate consistent sacks and turnovers in recent seasons.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s work with tight end Benjamin Brahmer\u2014Big 12 Freshman of the Year and productive through 2025\u2014underscores his role as a developer of skill talent.<\/p>\n<p>Eli Rasheed, who has coached with Campbell since the Toledo days, has been central to the Cyclones\u2019 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\u2019s pupil list includes first-round pick Will McDonald IV and other high-level draft prospects.<\/p>\n<p>Noah Pauley\u2019s arrival in 2023 immediately impacted Iowa State\u2019s 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\u2019s offensive line work boosted the run game from 103rd to 51st over three seasons and produced an offensive lineman selected in the 2025 draft\u2019s fourth round.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; Implications<\/h2>\n<p>Campbell\u2019s likely staff choices signal a preference for continuity and familiarity. Bringing long-time lieutenants such as Heacock and Rasheed would preserve schematic philosophies\u2014most notably Heacock\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>On offense, retaining or hiring coaches like Mouser and Clanton suggests Campbell values internal development and run-game balance. Mouser\u2019s 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\u2019s history of improving rushing outcomes and coaching draftable linemen could be attractive to Penn State\u2019s offensive line room and NFL visibility goals.<\/p>\n<p>Recruiting and regional ties will shape decisions. Poteat\u2019s Pennsylvania roots and regional recruiting connections could be particularly valuable in the Philadelphia and central Pennsylvania pipelines; similarly, Rasheed and Heacock\u2019s Midwest recruiting footprints tie to Campbell\u2019s established networks. Penn State\u2019s national expectations mean hires will be evaluated for both immediate schematic fit and long-term recruiting upside.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; Data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Metric<\/th>\n<th>2024<\/th>\n<th>2025<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Scoring offense (national)<\/td>\n<td>41st<\/td>\n<td>60th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Total offense (national)<\/td>\n<td>39th<\/td>\n<td>63rd<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Plays of 20+ yards<\/td>\n<td>18th<\/td>\n<td>63rd<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Sacks per game (since 2022)<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"2\">No better than 111th (Cyclones)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>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\u2019s earlier units (2017\u20132021) produced stronger sack totals and top-25 rushing defense finishes, showing the staff can achieve higher outcomes when player talent and continuity align.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; Quotes<\/h2>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Heacock is viewed as a top candidate to join Campbell in the staff transition,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Pete Nakos \/ On3 (reporting)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The On3 reporting cited Heacock\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;[Brabenec] serves as the direct line of communication to the athletics administration and is in charge of all staff processes,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Iowa State Athletics (staff bio)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Greg Brabenec\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: The 3-3-5 defense and chief of staff role<\/summary>\n<p>The 3-3-5 defense deploys three down linemen, three linebackers and five defensive backs, prioritizing speed, coverage flexibility and nickel\/cover-package versatility. It often stresses cornerbacks and safeties to make plays in space rather than relying solely on heavy front pressure. A college football chief of staff typically manages operations, budgets, travel, scheduling and staff processes, serving as the athletics administration\u2019s primary coordinator for the football program. That institutional role stabilizes logistics while coaches focus on on-field preparation and recruiting.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Heacock\u2019s move to Penn State has been widely reported but not confirmed by Penn State or Iowa State as of publication.<\/li>\n<li>Which assistants from James Franklin\u2019s 2025 Penn State staff will be retained under Campbell remains undecided and subject to official announcements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>Matt Campbell\u2019s 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\u2014particularly Pennsylvania connections like Hank Poteat\u2014may factor heavily into final staff decisions as Campbell balances familiarity with local footprint needs.<\/p>\n<p>Expect a phased rollout: reports and media coverage will firm into official announcements over the coming weeks. The composition of Campbell\u2019s staff will shape not only the 2026 season\u2019s immediate competitiveness but also long-term recruiting trajectories and schematic identity for Penn State football.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pennlive.com\/pennstatefootball\/2025\/12\/analyzing-iowa-state-staffers-who-could-join-matt-campbell-at-penn-state-including-a-harrisburg-native.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PennLive (local newsroom reporting)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cyclones.com\/sports\/football\/roster\/coaches\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Iowa State Athletics \u2014 Football Coaches (official staff bios)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">On3 (national recruiting &#038; college sports reporting)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After a search exceeding 50 days, Penn State selected Matt Campbell as the program\u2019s 17th full-time head coach. Campbell, a three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year and Iowa State\u2019s 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\u2019s &#8230; <a title=\"Which Iowa State Staffers Could Join Matt Campbell at Penn State, Including a Harrisburg Native\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/matt-campbell-iowa-state-staff\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Which Iowa State Staffers Could Join Matt Campbell at Penn State, Including a Harrisburg Native\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8117,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Which Iowa State Staffers Could Join Matt Campbell at Penn State \u2014 PennLive","rank_math_description":"Matt Campbell\u2019s move to Penn State raises key staffing questions. We profile Iowa State assistants likely to follow him, their records and what it means for Penn State.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"matt campbell,iowa state,penn state,jon heacock,taylor mouser","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8118","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8118","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8118"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8118\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8117"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8118"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8118"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8118"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}