The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell has announced that Jake Waters, an integral piece in the Cyclones’ success, has been promoted to running backs coach.
“Jake is a valuable and talented member of our coaching staff and we are excited to see him in this new role,” Campbell said. “He has earned this opportunity because of his hard work and the impact he’s made during his four seasons with the program. His experience on our staff will make this a seamless transition for him and our team as he moves into this position.”
Waters, a Council Bluffs, Iowa, native, has been with the program since 2021 as a senior quality control staff member for the offense. In total, he’s spent four seasons with the Cyclone program, working as a graduate assistant in 2017.ADVERTISING
Working with the Cyclone offense, Waters has played a role in the success of some of ISU’s greatest offensive players of all-time, including Breece Hall and Brock Purdy.
Iowa State has reached three bowl games during his tenure while also producing the fourth-best scoring average (31.3) and fifth-best total offense (424.5), respectively, in the history of the program in 2021. ISU’s red zone offense has been above 90 percent two of the last three seasons, including a 93.5 percent mark in 2023 that ranked seventh nationally.
After the 2017 season, Waters spent three seasons as an offensive assistant coach on Dana Dimel’s staff at UTEP. He worked with the tight ends, fullbacks and wide receivers during his tenure with the Miners.
Waters jumped right into coaching after his standout playing career. He was a volunteer quarterbacks coach at Iowa Western Community College for two seasons (2015-16) prior to his first stint at Iowa State.
He was a two-year starter at quarterback for Kansas State (2013-14), compiling a 17-9 record as a starter. He was All-Big 12 Second Team in 2014, breaking school career records for completion percentage and passing efficiency.
Waters transferred to K-State after an outstanding career at IWCC, earning first team All-America and NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year accolades in 2012.
A 2014 graduate of Kansas State, Waters prepped at St. Albert High School in Council Bluffs, leading the Falcons to a pair of Class 1A state titles and was a three-time all-state selection.
Coaching Experience
2024 – Iowa State – Running Backs
2021-23 – Iowa State – Senior Quality Control/Offense
2018-20 – UTEP – Wide Receivers
2017 – Iowa State – Graduate Assistant
2015-16 – Iowa Western CC – Volunteer Quarterbacks
