Big Red Louie
Fansided

Examining the candidates for the next head coach for Louisville football

By Ross Prophater

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - OCTOBER 20: Head coach Jeff Brohm of the Purdue Boilermakers is mobbed by fans after the upset win over the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 20, 2018 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - OCTOBER 20: Head coach Jeff Brohm of the Purdue Boilermakers is mobbed by fans after the upset win over the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 20, 2018 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Matt Campbell – Iowa State

Head Coach

Matt Campbell and his high tempo offense were known for lighting up scoreboards in the MAC conference while he was at Toledo. That lead him to earning the Iowa State job. His “Trust The Process” mantra gave his players and the fans of the Cyclones reason to believe in 2016 when he was named head coach.

In just his second season, he would lead the 2017 Cyclones campaign on one of the most impressive single seasons in Iowa State football history. They would go on the road to Norman, OK and upset a Top 5 Sooners team. Up until then, the Cyclones had never had a Top 5 road win in program history. Three weeks later they would knock off Gary Patterson’s Top 5 ranked TCU Horned Frogs.

A season that would see them earn their first ever college football playoff ranking, their magical season would come to an end with a 2017 Autozone Liberty Bowl victory over Mike Norvell’s high octane offense and the Memphis Tigers (we’ll get to him in a bit.)

Currently on a 5 game winning streak in 2018, the Cyclones sit at 6-3 overall with a 3rd ranked Big 12 conference 5-2 record. In that 5 game stretch they have impressive wins over Oklahoma State and Texas Tech, who both have accumulated Top 25 wins this season. But Campbell and the Cyclones most impressive win this season came over then #9 ranked West Virginia Mountaineers who are currently projected to play in a NY6 Bowl against LSU in the Peach Bowl.

On the recruiting circuit Campbell and his staff currently boast the 4th best recruiting class in the Big 12. They have commits from all over the plain states, but have reached from as far as Arizona, California, to Ohio to Florida. Currently sitting at 20 commits, the class is highlighted by 4 star and Top 10 ranked RB in the nation Jirehl Brock.

Campbell is unquestionably a hot commodity as his name will come up for numerous jobs at the end of the season, including Louisville. Rumor has it Vince Tyra really likes Campbell as a possible coaching candidate.

And what’s not to like? He’s a young guy (only 38 years old); runs an exciting, high tempo offense; a great motivator; proven winner and has accumulated multiple Top 10 wins at Iowa State. He’s certainly a name to keep an eye on Cardinals fans.

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