Penn State's new head coach is diving into his first spring practices, bringing a fresh perspective to the Nittany Lions. After taking the reins in December, the former Iowa State coach has had three months to assemble his roster, blending returning players with new talent from the transfer portal. With over 20 newcomers, many from his previous team, the Cyclones, the challenge is clear.
Matt Campbell, the man now at the helm, is sticking to a tried-and-true method for the 15 spring practices. He emphasizes the essence of coaching as teaching.
“Coaching is about inspiring learning,” Campbell shares. “Every practice and meeting is a chance to teach.”
Campbell stresses the importance of creating a strong foundation. Whether it’s a meeting, a walk-through, or a full practice, he’s focused on crafting an environment conducive to learning.
“With the yearly turnover in rosters and sometimes coaching staffs, you have to start from square one,” he explains. “It’s about self-reflection-understanding what worked, what didn’t, and what the team needs.”
He acknowledges that each year brings its own set of challenges and nuances. “Every spring practice is going to look different based on where the team is at,” Campbell notes.
His approach is methodical and deliberate: “Slow and right is the process for us. It’s about aligning everyone and ensuring we’re doing things correctly from the start.”
As the Nittany Lions gear up for the season, Campbell’s methodical approach aims to build a cohesive and competitive team, ready to tackle the challenges ahead.