When you’re coaching linebackers at Penn State - a place affectionately and proudly known as “Linebacker U” - the bar isn’t just high, it’s sky-high. Producing top-tier talent isn’t a hope, it’s an expectation. And now, Matt Campbell has made his first big move in that department, bringing in Tyson Veidt to lead the linebacker room.
Veidt officially joined the Nittany Lions on January 2, coming over from Cincinnati, where he served as the Bearcats’ defensive coordinator for the past two seasons. While Cincinnati’s defense allowed 25.6 points per game in 2025, the move to Penn State represents a return to a more focused role for Veidt - one that aligns with his strongest track record: developing linebackers.
Dan Connor, who coached the position in 2025, will remain on staff and continue working closely with the linebackers, but Veidt steps in to lead the unit - and he brings a wealth of experience and proven production with him.
A Proven Track Record with Campbell
Veidt’s connection with Campbell runs deep. The two worked together for eight seasons at Iowa State, where Veidt served as associate head coach and linebackers coach.
During that stretch, Veidt’s work spoke volumes. He was named Football Scoop’s National Linebackers Coach of the Year in 2017 and followed that up with a Broyles Award nomination in 2018 - recognition that speaks to his impact on both player development and defensive execution.
From 2017 to 2019, all three of Veidt’s starting linebackers earned All-Big 12 honors each season - a level of consistency that’s rare at any program. Over his tenure in Ames, he helped coach 45 all-conference defenders, a testament to his ability to identify, develop, and maximize talent.
Before his time at Iowa State, Veidt worked with Campbell at Toledo from 2014 to 2015, where he not only coached linebackers but also served as the Rockets’ recruiting coordinator - a role that could pay dividends now that he’s stepping into one of the most competitive recruiting environments in the country.
Building from the Ground Up
One of the more impressive chapters in Veidt’s coaching journey came earlier in his career, when he was the head coach at Bluffton University, a Division III program in Ohio. When he arrived in 2008, the team had just one win to its name. By the time he left in 2013, his teams had broken 40 school records - a clear sign of his ability to rebuild and elevate a program, even without the resources of a Power Five school.
Veidt’s coaching roots go back even further. After playing at Muskingum University from 1992 to 1995, he got his start as a graduate assistant there in 1997.
He moved through stops at Indiana, West Virginia, and Saint Vincent, among others, steadily climbing the ladder and gaining experience in a variety of roles. That kind of diverse background often shapes coaches into versatile leaders - and that’s exactly what Veidt has become.
Developing NFL-Caliber Talent
If there’s one thing that defines Veidt’s coaching resume, it’s his ability to develop linebackers into high-impact players - both at the college level and beyond.
Take Willie Harvey, for example. Under Veidt’s guidance at Iowa State, Harvey racked up 289 tackles, 31 tackles for loss, and 12.5 sacks from 2016 to 2018.
He earned three consecutive All-Big 12 honorable mentions and eventually signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2019. He’s now thriving in the United Football League, where he’s already picked up two All-UFL selections.
Then there’s Jake Hummel, who played for the Cyclones from 2017 to 2021. Hummel was a steady presence, finishing his college career with 228 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and three interceptions. He went undrafted in 2022, but signed with the Los Angeles Rams and spent three seasons there before landing with the Baltimore Ravens in 2025.
Veidt also played a key role in the development of two All-Americans: Joel Lanning and Mike Rose.
Lanning’s story is the kind you don’t see every day. A former quarterback, he made a full-time switch to linebacker in his final season at Iowa State and didn’t just survive - he thrived.
In 2017, Lanning posted 114 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and six sacks, earning First Team All-America honors. He signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2018, making a brief stop in the NFL.
Mike Rose, meanwhile, was a force from day one. He was named a freshman All-American by the FWAA and capped off his college career by winning Big 12 Defensive MVP honors in 2020.
Rose finished with 41 tackles for loss and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022. He’s now with the St.
Louis Battlehawks in the UFL.
What It Means for Penn State
Veidt’s arrival at Penn State isn’t just about adding another coach to the staff - it’s about continuing a legacy. Linebacker U has a reputation to uphold, and Veidt’s history of producing elite talent makes him a natural fit for that mission.
With Dan Connor still in the fold and Campbell now at the helm, the Nittany Lions’ linebacker room is in strong hands. Veidt brings a mix of experience, player development chops, and recruiting savvy that should help Penn State maintain - and possibly elevate - its standard at the position.
For a program that prides itself on linebacker play, this hire checks all the right boxes.