Penn State's coaching change leads to recruiting setbacks and uneven start under new coach
A year after firing James Franklin, Penn State's football program has struggled with a chaotic hiring process, loss of recruits and a 3-2 record under interim coach Matt Campbell.
Penn State entered the 2024 season ranked No. 18 but has slipped to 12th in the Big Ten after losses to Wisconsin and Northwestern, standing at 3-2 under first-year head coach Matt Campbell. The program’s turmoil began when athletic director Pat Kraft dismissed James Franklin on Oct. 12, 2023, after a 3-3 start and a recent defeat to Northwestern.
The firing sparked a protracted search for a replacement. Early candidates such as Nebraska’s Matt Rhule, Texas A&M’s Mike Elko and Indiana’s Curt Cignetti withdrew, and Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer was never seriously considered. The process attracted attention from boosters, former players and trustees, complicating the decision-making.
Recruiting suffered markedly; 24 prospects decommitted, dropping the class from a top-20 ranking to outside the top 60, while 11 former commits followed Franklin to Virginia Tech. Penn State explored several options, including former New York Giants coach Brian Daboll and Louisville’s Jeff Brohm, before briefly targeting BYU’s Kalani Sitake, who ultimately remained at BYU.
With pressure mounting, Kraft turned to Iowa State’s Matt Campbell, who accepted the position after a 54-day search. Campbell brought 24 Iowa State players, including quarterback Rocco Becht, to State College. Early results have been mixed, as the team has struggled against conference opponents.
Recruiting has shown signs of recovery, with the latest class ranked 20th nationally and seventh in the Big Ten, according to 247Sports. Analysts note that Penn State’s experience underscores the risks of mid-season coaching changes and highlights the importance of timing and thorough planning in such decisions.
"The benefit of racing to fire a coach to get a head start ahead of early signing day and the transfer portal has its limits," a commentator noted.
The Nittany Lions face a challenging schedule ahead, including games against USC and Michigan, as they seek to stabilize performance under Campbell’s leadership.