Jake Waters - Quarterbacks - Staff Directory - Iowa State University Athletics

Staff Directory

Jake Waters

Title:
Quarterbacks
Email:
Phone:
515-294-6721

Longtime Iowa State staffer and Kansas State All-Big 12 quarterback Jake Waters is in his second season as quarterbacks coach. He returned to the Cyclone sidelines as Senior Quality Control Assistant for the Cyclone offense in 2021 after serving as a graduate assistant for the program in 2017.

The 2024 Cyclones recorded the greatest season in school history, reaching double-digit wins for the first time and finishing the season 11-3 overall and 7-2 in Big 12 Conference play. The Cyclones started 7-0, the best start in school history, and reached the Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship game for the second time in 133 seasons. ISU went on to defeat No. 15 Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, capping the record-setting season.

Offensively, the Cyclone offense averaged 31.3 points and 416.2 yards per game, both of which ranked in the Top 10 in program history. No Cyclone team has scored more offensive touchdowns than the 2024 Cyclones (52).

Waters guided quarterback Rocco Becht to one of the best seasons by a signal-caller the program has ever seen. Becht earned All-Big 12 honorable mention accolades after passing for 3,505 yards and 25 touchdowns, both of which rank second in the school's annals. The redshirt sophomore also rushed for eight touchdowns and led the Cyclones to four game-winning drives in the final two minutes, including the Pop-Tarts Bowl win against the Hurricanes. Becht was named the MVP of the bowl game.

In 2023, Waters helped mentor Becht as a senior quality control assistant. Becht earned Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors and was also named a Second Team Freshman All-American (The Athletic). He broke every Iowa State freshman passing record, throwing for more than 3,000 yards and 23 touchdowns.

The Cyclone offensive attack tallied a nation's best 11 offensive touchdowns of 50 yards or more. Iowa State was 31-for-33 (93.9) in the red zone, leading the Big 12 Conference and ranking seventh nationally, while leading the league and ranking 10th nationally with just 11 turnovers lost.

The Cyclones recorded the fourth-best scoring average (31.3) and the fifth-best total offense (424.5), respectively, in the history of the program in 2021. ISU also ranked second nationally in red zone offense, converting on 47-of-49 trips for a 95.9 percent clip, as the Cyclones earned a trip to the 2021 Cheez-It Bowl.

Waters had a three-year stint at UTEP (2018-20) as an offensive assistant coach on Dana Dimel’s staff. Waters worked with the tight ends, fullbacks and wide receivers during his time with the Miners.

He helped mentor David Lucero into one of the top tight ends in the league in 2018, ranking second on the team in receiving yards (322) while hauling in a pair of touchdowns.

Waters’ initial coaching experience at the FBS level was in 2017 when Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell hired him as a graduate assistant for the offense. The Cyclones thrived that season, tying a school-record with three wins over ranked opponents (Oklahoma, TCU, Memphis) and finishing the year with an 8-5 record and a victory in the Liberty Bowl.

Waters was a volunteer quarterbacks coach at Iowa Western Community College for two seasons (2015-16) prior to his first stint at Iowa State.

A native of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Waters had an outstanding two-year career as the quarterback at 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.

He transferred to Kansas State after an outstanding career at IWCC, earning first team All-America honors and was the NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year 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-present - Iowa State - Quarterbacks
2021-23 - Iowa State – Senior Quality Control/Offense
2018-20 - UTEP – Wide Receivers
2017 - Iowa State – Graduate Assistant
2015-16 - Iowa Western – Volunteer Quarterbacks