Peterson: Nine springs later, Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell says best is yet to come

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AMES – Nine springs later, that young head coach is still doing a darn good job making Iowa State football nationally relevant.

Nine springs later.

Did I really write that?

Matt Campbell going through his ninth spring season as the Cyclones’ football coach? There, I wrote it again.

“I still walk into this place every single day and be really grateful that I’m here,” Campbell told me, standing outside his office recently. “For myself and our family, honestly, you go to some of the former players’ weddings, and man, these guys are really proud of what they’ve accomplished and who we’ve become as a program.

“Those are the things you always wanted to do – to build something that everybody was proud of, and I think that’s hard to do in college football today. There’s not many places that are doing it and can sustain it. I think we’ve proven we can sustain it — and I still feel our best is yet to come.”

More: Peterson: Iowa State football 2024 Big 12 schedule brings return to Arrowhead Stadium

Campbell has turned down multiple opportunities while coaching the Cyclones to heights the program has never previously been. Florida State and Arkansas come to mind, and maybe USC, too, among others in the college ranks.

His family likes it in and around Ames, and Iowa State fans like them, too. Since 2016, it’s been as perfect a relationship as Brock Purdy handing off to Breece Hall, and Rocco Becht passing to Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins.

Matt Campbell raises the trophy after coaching Iowa State to a Fiesta Bowl victory against Oregon in 2021.

“It’s gone fast,” Campbell told me. “We’ve already got a sophomore daughter, an eighth-grade daughter – and the boys are growing up. It’s been an incredible place to raise our kids, and a great community to be a father and husband, too.”

During the…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/peterson-nine-springs-later-iowa-105006112.html

Author : The Des Moines Register

Publish date : 2024-04-11 10:50:06

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