Penn State’s December 12, 2025 staff announcement was one of the first concrete steps in Matt Campbell’s roster rebuild. This article has been updated as of May 13, 2026 so it reflects the official announcement and avoids overstating scheme conclusions from the first wave of hires.
The Official Announcement
GoPSUSports announced 10 additions to Penn State’s 2026 football staff on December 12, 2025. The three on-field coaching additions were Taylor Mouser as offensive coordinator and tight ends coach, Ryan Clanton as offensive line coach, and Deon Broomfield as secondary coach.
The release also listed Skip Brabenec as football chief of staff, Derek Hoodjer as general manager, Aaron Hillmann as director of sports performance operations, Reid Kagy as head strength and conditioning coach, Brandon Pietrzyk as assistant strength and conditioning coach, Trent Slattenow as director of player personnel, and Jack Griffith as recruiting assistant.
Centre Daily Times and The Sentinel both matched the core names and timing, giving this article multiple public confirmations beyond the official release.
Why Mouser Mattered
Mouser followed Campbell from Iowa State after spending the previous decade on the Cyclones’ staff. Penn State’s announcement credited him with serving as Iowa State’s offensive coordinator for the previous two seasons and working with the tight ends for five seasons.
For Penn State depth-chart coverage, Mouser’s title matters because it connects play-calling, tight end usage, and quarterback continuity. Rocco Becht later transferred from Iowa State to Penn State, and Benjamin Brahmer also became part of the 2026 tight end room. Those are real roster links. The cautious wording is that Mouser’s arrival made those positions especially important to watch, not that a specific formation or snap split was already locked in.
Clanton and Broomfield
Ryan Clanton arrived as offensive line coach after holding the same role at Iowa State. Penn State’s release cited improved rushing production and strong sack-prevention numbers during his Iowa State tenure. That made the offensive line a natural area to monitor during the Campbell transition, especially after the transfer class added multiple linemen.
Deon Broomfield was announced for the secondary. His hire was part of a defensive staff that later expanded and shifted titles as Penn State finalized the 2026 staff. The key archive point is that Broomfield was part of the first wave of Campbell assistants, before the full defensive coordinator and position-title picture settled.
Terry Smith and Continuity
The early staff story was not only about Iowa State arrivals. Terry M. Smith’s continued presence on Penn State’s staff became an important continuity point for recruiting and defensive back development. Later official roster/staff listings had Smith as associate head coach and cornerbacks coach.
That combination of new Campbell assistants and retained Penn State ties is the best way to read the December announcement. It was not a final answer to every staff question, but it showed how Campbell began blending his existing network with State College continuity.
Depth-Chart Takeaway
The December 12 staff additions mattered because coaching assignments shape evaluation. Quarterbacks, tight ends, offensive linemen, and defensive backs all had new or clarified voices in the building. Still, the article should not claim that any player won or lost a job because of the announcement alone.
The safer conclusion is that the staff framework gave Penn State a structure for the January portal wave, February signings, spring practice, and the eventual 2026 depth chart.
Sources and update notes
This update was checked against GoPSUSports’ December 12, 2025 staff announcement, Centre Daily Times’ December 2025 staff coverage, The Sentinel’s report on the same announcement, and Penn State’s later 2026 roster/staff listing.