Jake Waters Joins Penn State as Quarterbacks Coach, Continues Matt Campbell’s Staff Migration from Iowa State
UNIVERSITY PARK - Penn State’s coaching staff continues to take shape under Matt Campbell, and the quarterback room just gained a new leader. Jake Waters, who spent the last six seasons at Iowa State, has officially been named the Nittany Lions’ quarterbacks coach for the 2026 season.
Waters brings continuity and familiarity to Campbell’s transition from Ames to Happy Valley. He’s the fifth position coach to follow Campbell from Iowa State, joining a growing list that includes offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Taylor Mouser, wide receivers coach Noah Pauley, offensive line coach Ryan Clanton, and secondary coach Deon Broomfield. Campbell has also brought over key support staff members, including personnel and strength and conditioning staffers, signaling a full-system transplant aimed at building long-term stability in State College.
Waters’ resume includes two seasons as quarterbacks coach at Iowa State, where he helped develop Rocco Becht into one of the most durable and consistent signal-callers in the country. Becht has started 39 consecutive games - the longest active streak among Big 12 quarterbacks and fourth-longest nationally - a testament to both his resilience and the coaching behind the scenes.
Before stepping into coaching, Waters was a standout quarterback himself at Kansas State. That playing experience shows in his coaching style - he understands the rhythm, pressure, and decision-making that comes with leading an offense at the Power Five level. Now, he brings that insight to a Penn State program looking to elevate its quarterback play in a competitive Big Ten landscape.
In other news out of Happy Valley, redshirt junior offensive lineman Olaivavega Ioane continues to rack up postseason honors. On Thursday, he earned his third All-American nod of the year, landing on the FWAA All-America second team. Ioane’s consistent dominance in the trenches has been a bright spot for the Nittany Lions all season, and his recognition reflects the impact he’s had anchoring the offensive line.
Penn State is currently in game-week mode as they prepare for their upcoming Pinstripe Bowl matchup against Clemson. The game is set for Saturday, Dec. 27, with a noon kickoff at Yankee Stadium. It’s a chance for the Nittany Lions to close the season with momentum and give fans a glimpse of what the Campbell era could look like moving forward - and with Waters now leading the quarterback room, that future is starting to take shape.