As far as hot coaching commodities are concerned, Matt Campbell’s name lights up every offseason like the Rockefeller Christmas tree. Since taking the reins at Iowa State in 2016, Campbell has transformed the Cyclones into perennial Big 12 contenders, turning heads and earning plenty of admiring glances from college and NFL programs alike. With a solid 64-51 record at Iowa State and a knack for making magic happen in Ames, it’s no wonder he’s the belle of the coaching ball. The question isn’t just who wants him; it’s who can afford him.

But here’s the kicker: if any team wants to whisk Matt Campbell away from the cornfields, they’d better come with deep pockets. According to USA Today’s college football salary database, Iowa State’s buyout clause for Campbell is a dollar amount that ranks him 53rd among college football’s highest-paid coaches. Although, in the bottom half of head coaching salaries.

On paper, Campbell’s $4,009,886 annual salary. The former DL’s buyout is a jaw-dropping $16,333,333 as of 2024. That’s a lot of zeros for a coach who signed a six-year, $22.5 million extension within a year after arriving on his 36 birthday. Already declined an interview with the Jets in 2018. He is now on the open Chicago Bears head coaching job list.

This year’s Cyclones came within a hair of making the expanded 12-team Playoffs, losing the Big 12 Championship to Arizona State in heartbreaking fashion. Their 11-3 finish and Pop-Tarts Bowl victory were a testament to the culture Matt Campbell has built in Ames. That’s why every athletic director with a vacancy—or a wandering eye—is probably asking the same question right now: “What would it take to get Matt Campbell?”

While Campbell has entertained offers in the past, including rumored NFL interest, he’s remained fiercely loyal to Iowa State. “We’ve got unfinished business here,” he said after the Cyclones’ bowl win, a subtle nod to their close-but-no-cigar playoff aspirations. However, loyalty in college football is a precarious balancing act, especially when the financial and professional stakes keep rising.

The deal with Matt Campbell

Matt Campbell’s legacy at Iowa State got a serious vote of confidence a month ago. The Cyclones’ head coach, who has already become the program’s all-time leader in wins and delivered its first-ever 11-win season, signed an eight-year extension to keep him in Ames through 2032. Locking in their leader for the long haul.

On top of his $4 million annual salary, Campbell is also eligible for bonuses that could max out at $2.25 million this season. While he doesn’t yet match the hefty paychecks of Big 12 rivals like Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy ($7.75 million) or Kansas’ Lance Leipold ($7.5 million), this deal signals Iowa State’s commitment to building something special.

Athletic Director Jamie Pollard summed it up perfectly: “Coach Campbell and his staff have had an incredible impact—not just on the football program, but on the university and the lives of our student-athletes. This extension is a testament to their dedication and success over the past decade.” Besides that, his hefty buyout not only highlights Iowa State’s commitment to keeping the 3x Big 12 Coach of the Year honoree but also sets a steep price for any program daring to woo him away.

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