Not every breakup has to be ugly, and Iowa State proved that with the way athletic director Jamie Pollard handled football coach Matt Campbell leaving for Penn State.
It Is Over: Long, Winding Penn State Coaching Search Ends With Matt Campbell
Less than a week after the Lane Kiffin saga finally ended with an ugly divorce, Campbell left Ames for State College.
But if there’s any animosity on Iowa State’s end, Pollard did a great job hiding it.
In an interview with local reporters, Pollard had nothing but good things to say about his now-former coach.
“He’s had an amazing run as our football coach,” Pollard said via Shannon Ehrhardt of KCCI-TV in Des Moines. “He had other times he could’ve left, and he chose not to. Matt Campbell owes Iowa State nothing.”
Pollard then said that Iowa State “needs to put a statue up” of Campbell for what he did at the University
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.“Iowa State University needs to put a statue up of Matt Campbell at some point in time in the future because he’s done more for Iowa State football than anybody ever has,” Pollard said. “And, although I’m disappointed that he’s leaving, it’s not my right to decide what is right for Matt Campbell and his family at this point in time. That’s a very personal decision for him.”
Those who look at Campbell’s overall record at Iowa State (72-55, 50-40 in the Big 12) and aren’t impressed don’t know the context.
When Campbell got to Iowa State, the program had just eight winning seasons in the previous 38 years.
Campbell had eight winning seasons in 10 years.
“I will always feel indebted to Matt Campbell for what he did for all of us,” Pollard said. “He showed us what this place really has for potential.”
