Iowa
Matt Campbell reportedly bringing longtime Iowa State staffer to Penn State as 1st hire
Penn State made a key hire for Matt Campbell’s first staff in Happy Valley simultaneously as it announced Campbell’s deal: retaining interim head coach Terry Smith on a long-term contract.
But Campbell has many other staff positions to fill out between now and the start of the 2026 season. And according to multiple reports, he’s made his first one.
Iowa State assistant athletic director for player personnel Derek Hoodjer is set to follow Campbell to Penn State. CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported the news Sunday morning.
Hoodjer was a longtime Cyclones assistant, serving in Ames since 2011 in various roles, including as a defensive graduate assistant and a recruiting staffer. His time with the Cyclones started as a student, and he graduated from Iowa State in 2014.
Hoodjer is a native of Lincoln, Nebraska.
He is a key cog in Campbell’s recruiting efforts. Iowa State has signed top-50 classes multiple times under Campbell despite having fewer financial resources than most Power Four programs.
Campbell could certainly bring more Iowa State personnel with him to Penn State. But Hoodjer represents the first big domino in the hiring process.
Campbell is set to be introduced as the 17th head coach in Penn State history on Monday, pending approval from the Board of Trustees in the morning.