Grand Forks native Jake Landry excited to continue working with Matt Campbell at Penn State

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Feb. 1—GRAND FORKS — Jake Landry might not truly feel the significance of his coaching path leading to a college football blue blood for many months still.

The Grand Forks native and former UND quarterback says there's too much work to be done to soak in the moment at Penn State.

"The history here isn't something I take for granted," Landry said. "It gives me goosebumps even now. My brother Nick the other day even asked 'Who would have thought a kid from North Dakota coaching at Penn State?'

"When you're in it, though, you're just trying to do the best you can. It'll hit me when we run out for the first game. It'll probably be, 'Holy smokes, this is pretty sweet' when you run out for the first time."

Landry, a 2006 Grand Forks Central graduate and three-sport star, was the running backs coach at Iowa State in 2025 after serving as the offensive coordinator at 2024 FCS national champion North Dakota State the previous season.

In early December, Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell was officially announced as the next head coach at Penn State. Landry would eventually join Campbell in Happy Valley with the official title of senior offensive analyst.

Landry's well-traveled coaching career prepared him for some of the uneasy moments of uncertainty amid coaching transitions.

"Fortunately or unfortunately, it's happened to me before and been in that position and know what to expect," Landry said. "When I left NDSU to go to Iowa State, I knew the caliber of coach Campbell is. But I didn't think it was going to be as quick of a turnaround for me personally like it was."

Landry wanted to stay connected with Campbell's program culture. Landry said that was a belief strengthened after the unexpected death in August of his older brother Tony.

"What I've learned since losing Tony is there are no do-overs," he said. "I've worked for some guys where you don't enjoy going in every day. When you work for good people, you have to cherish it. Working with Campbell is a big reason I came out here. I learn from him every day in every facet of leadership and coaching. It's how he does it caring about his staff and players and their families."

Landry had seen Penn State in passing. He previously spent time coaching at Temple and had worked clinics at nearby Penn State.

"That was just passing through, but then you get here and you see the amount of different things our guys have access to with nutrition and literally everything … it's eye-opening everything they have," Landry said.

As a senior offensive analyst, Landry said his role will be in the passing game for the Nittany Lions.

"I'll be able to be on the field and in the meetings and my role will be heavily involved in the pass game, up in the box with the offensive coordinator," Landry said.

Landry and his wife and kids are staying in a temporary home near Penn State in hopes of finding something more long-term soon.

"I think what gets lost in transitions of coaches is the families," he said. "I'm fortunate my daughter isn't in school year and my twin boys are 10 months. They don't know the difference. My daughter just thinks it's cool to wear a new cheerleader outfit. Uprooting your family is the one thing that weighs on you at times, especially when you aren't together in those first weeks.

"Once everyone gets settled in and you have your family around, then it feels more like your foundation is with you. Those transition weeks are the most challenging. But for us as coaches, you realize you can't sit back say you've made it or this is awesome. It's I'm here now. Let's get to work. The cool part here is Campbell doesn't let anyone have an ego. There's a lot of work to get done."

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