Matt Campbell, Penn State’s new head coach, has a unique and deep connection to a Super Bowl winner a few hours away in Philadelphia.

Campbell and Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni go way back. Campbell, who will be formally introduced as the Nittany Lions’ new coach on Monday, and Sirianni were roommates and played together at Division III powerhouse Mount Union between 1999-2002.

Less than 24 hours after news broke of Campbell’s hiring, Sirianni was asked on Saturday at the NovaCare Complex in south Philadelphia about his friend’s new, high-profile gig.

“I’m really excited for him. Really excited for him and the opportunity that he has. Well-deserved,” Sirianni said. “Phenomenal football coach, phenomenal person, great family.”

Sirianni continued, saying he has “been an Iowa State fan for the last 10 years.” Campbell, who was hired by the Cyclones in 2016, built a winner in Ames. His .554 winning percentage (72-55) was the best of any Iowa State coach since 1919. Campbell was a three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year and led the Cyclones to two Big 12 championship game appearances.

Sirianni added that he’s also been a fan of Jason Candle, the Toledo coach who accepted the UConn job last Friday. Candle and Sirianni were wide receivers at Mount Union together.

Sirianni gave credit to legendary Mount Union coach Larry Kehres.

“For the various degrees that we went for, we didn’t know we’d leave with a doctorate degree in football coaching,” Sirianni said. “Larry Kehres deserves a lot of credit for all of us being in these positions right now.”

And now that Campbell is in the position he’s in — a little more than three hours away from Philadelphia — Sirianni is excited to follow what he does in Happy Valley.

“Really excited to be able to take a drive down there and talk football with him even more,” Sirianni said. “We can do it on our phones. But now I can go watch a spring practice or something like that, if the rules allow you to. I don’t know how that actually is.

“Really looking forward to watching him. I just think he’s a great football coach.”

Listen to the Blue-White Breakdown podcast