Another Job Opening, Another Matt Campbell Mention

UCLA’s decision to move on from DeShaun Foster opens the door to legitimate coaching rumors, and among the names floated so far, Iowa State’s Matt Campbell deserves serious attention.

247Sports has already listed Campbell among the top candidates. But to view this merely as another recruiting “check the box” candidate would miss the nuance: Campbell has turned down multiple opportunities before because he truly believes in what he’s building in Ames. It will take more than a glitzy Los Angeles job to pry him away.

To start, Campbell is one of the few Big 12 coaches who combine sustained success with an upward trajectory. Since taking over at Iowa State in 2016, he has transformed a program that long labored in the conference’s lower tier into a consistent contender. In 2024, Iowa State posted an 11–3 record, went 7–2 in Big 12 play, and made the Big 12 Championship Game. That kind of momentum is rare for a program with limited resources compared to the “blue bloods” UCLA now hopes to join. His overall coaching record also reflects that balance: building on the foundation he laid at Toledo and steadily raising expectations in Ames.

But success on the field is just the starting point. Campbell has demonstrated a loyalty and patience that’s become rare in this era of coaching churn. Multiple reports point out that he has turned down other offers in the past, choosing continuity and control over a quick jump. That suggests he’s not just coach‑shopping; he weighs whether the move truly elevates him beyond what he already has in Ames.

One major factor bolstering Campbell’s staying power is his recent contract extension. In December 2024, Iowa State announced an eight‑year deal keeping him through the 2032 season. That kind of long-term commitment from the school not only signals institutional trust but places a substantial financial and reputational hurdle for any suitor to clear. A program like UCLA would have to outbid that, and then sell a vision that surpasses what Campbell already owns. Given that Iowa State doesn’t have the wealth of USC or Michigan, but is deeply invested in Campbell’s style, that’s a high bar.

We should also consider the risks Campbell would face by jumping to UCLA. The Bruins have history, prestige, and coaching challenges, but they also carry pressure, unstable expectations, and a West Coast recruiting base far from Campbell’s Midwestern roots. Campbell would be trading a program on the rise, where he controls progress, for one that needs resuscitation, during a transition period.

Still, it’s understandable why UCLA would covet him. Campbell offers proven leadership in the Big 12, program-building credibility, and a strong image of consistency rather than volatility. From their vantage point, landing him would signal that UCLA intends to compete, not just for Big Ten relevance, but as a national profile program. But unless UCLA can offer something dramatically better, financially and structurally, than what he already has at Iowa State, it’s hard to see him opting for the move now.

The smart money is on Campbell staying put, unless the perfect job, not just a flashy one, finally materializes.