Penn State Reportedly Targeted Marcus Freeman, Mike Elko Before Matt Campbell Hire

BYU's Kalani Sitake reportedly wasn't the only head coach Penn State targeted before hiring Matt Campbell away from Iowa State.

The Athletic's Ralph D. Russo reported Friday that Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft began his search for James Frankin's replacement by pursuing Campbell alongside Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman and Texas A&M's Mike Elko.

According to Russo, "Freeman had no interest" in the job. Elko signed a six-year extension with the Aggies in November.

The Nittany Lions announced Monday that Campbell had been hired on a deal running through the 2033 season.

The Nittany Lions had also been connected to Nebraska's Matt Rhule, although Russo wrote Rhule's "candidacy never took off."

Russo reported that Penn State had also had "some level of interest in or contact" with at least 10 other coaches working in both the NCAA and NFL during their search to replace Franklin.

From the college football ranks, that included former Northwestern coach and recently-hired MSU leader Pat Fitzgerald as well as Louisville's Jeff Brohm, Vanderbilt's Clark Lea and Ohio State coordinators Brian Harline and Matt Patricia, per Russo.

Russo also named former New York Giants coach Brian Daboll and Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees as coaches connected to Kraft's search.

Campbell's hiring was announced almost two months after Franklin was fired six games into his 12th season with the team.

According to Russo, Campbell was difficult to contact early on in Kraft's search because Penn State did not hire an outside firm to assist with coaching search and Campbell was not represented by an agent.

In the end, according to Russo, it took six weeks and a failed pursuit of Sitake before Penn State connected with Campbell.

Russo reported that Kraft and Campbell didn't speak for the first time until Dec. 3, just five days before the Nittany Lions announced Campbell's hiring.

Kraft described that talk as a "late-night call" when speaking to reporters earlier this week.

"Why did it take so long for us to find each other? He was perfect. We connected on so many levels," Kraft said Tuesday, per On3's Dan Morrison. "You know, I woke my wife up, Betsy, and I said, 'Oh, my God. He's the guy.'"

Campbell led Iowa State to a 72-55 record in 10 seasons with the program.

He will now look to replicate that success with a program that could potentially put more resources behind him. According to The Inside Zone's Matt Fortuna, the Nittany Lions plan to commit $30 million in NIL funding and $17 million toward Campbell's staff next season.