Matt Campbell, Penn State Dealt Unfortunate Coaching News After College Football Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Hunter Hodies | Last updated Dec 10, 2025 5:03 PM ET

Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin has continued to go back to his former employer, Penn State, for some of his hires.

Franklin was the head coach at Penn State for 12 seasons before the school fired him halfway through the 2025 season. Virginia Tech later hired him in mid-November.

He's reportedly set to hire Penn State co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Ty Howle to be Virginia Tech's full-time offensive coordinator. Still, the poaching isn't ending with Howle.

According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, Penn State quarterbacks coach Danny O'Brien is set to become Virginia Tech's quarterbacks coach. O'Brien has been with Penn State since 2021, when he first joined as an offensive analyst.

He was an offensive analyst for two seasons, an offensive graduate assistant during the 2023 season, and the quarterbacks coach for the last two seasons.

Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell reacts during the fourth quarter against BYU at Jack Trice Stadium on Oct. 25, 2025, in Ames, Iowa.© Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Penn State head coach Matt Campbell, who just took the job, will have to find replacements for both O'Brien and Howle. Campbell spent the last 10 seasons at Iowa State, compiling a 72-55 overall record. He finished the 2025 season with an 8-4 record after leading the program to an 11-3 record last season.

Before he was the head coach at Iowa State, he coached at Toledo for five seasons, finishing with a 35-15 overall record. He'll be tasked with leading Penn State back to the College Football Playoff.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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