Penn State is set to hire former Iowa State quarterbacks coach Jake Waters as its quarterbacks coach, bringing another familiar face from Matt Campbell’s staff to State College.
Waters has worked under Campbell at Iowa State since 2021, starting as an offensive quality coach, and has served as the Cyclones’ quarterbacks coach since 2024.
During Waters’ playing days, he was also a former Penn State recruiting target. Bill O’Brien evaluated Waters after breaking former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton’s single season completion percentage record at Iowa Western Community College completing 73.3% of his passes. Waters eventually signed with Kansas State.
“Jake is a valuable and talented member of our coaching staff, and we are excited to see him in this new role,” Campbell said in 2024 when Waters was first promoted from an off-field assistant position to running backs coach. Waters later transitioned to quarterbacks coach prior to the 2024 season. “He has earned this opportunity because of his hard work and the impact he’s made during his four seasons with the program.”
Waters will work with Penn State’s quarterbacks alongside program letterman Trace McSorley, who is expected to return in 2026 in a role similar to his current position as assistant quarterbacks coach.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.With Waters’ hiring finalized, attention now turns to whether longtime Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht could follow Campbell and his staff to Penn State.
Becht has not entered the transfer portal and has not indicated whether he plans to do so. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Becht recently underwent labrum surgery on his non-throwing shoulder.
In 2025, Becht completed 205 of 309 passes (60.5 percent) for 2,584 yards, 16 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Over his career at Iowa State, he threw for 9,274 yards and 64 touchdowns.
