Jake Langi embarks on his first season at the Hilltop as Senior Personnel Analyst, where he plays a critical role in both player evaluation and recruitment. With 15 years of experience spanning the FCS, Group of Five, and Power Four levels, Langi brings significant knowledge to the Mustang program.
Before joining SMU, Langi spent three years in the private sector following a five-year tenure with the University of Texas. He initially worked as a Recruiting Assistant during the 2017 and 2018 seasons before his promotion to Player Personnel Analyst in 2019, the first in this role in program history. From 2021 to 2022, Langi also served as Junior College Liaison, managing Special Projects, while overseeing the recruitment and player assessments for the EDGE position.
His contributions were instrumental to Texas’ achievement of three Top 10 signing classes over five years. Notably, Langi played a substantial part in the evaluation and/or recruitment of prominent athletes such as Junior Angilau, a three-year starter, and several eventual NFL players including Moro Ojomo, Jaylan Ford, Christian Jones, Alfred Collins, Vernon Broughton, David Gbenda, and Jake Majors. Additionally, he aided in the recruitment of Liona Lefau, who became the first-ever football recruit from Hawaii to sign with the Longhorns in 2023.
During Langi’s time in Austin, the Longhorns captured four consecutive bowl victories including the 2018 Sugar Bowl win over fifth-ranked Georgia, culminating in a No. 8 national ranking and the institution’s first 10-win season in a decade. Other highlights include triumphs in the 2017 Texas Bowl vs. Missouri, 2019 Alamo Bowl vs. 11th-ranked Utah, and 2020 Alamo Bowl vs. Colorado.
Langi’s career began at Texas State University serving in diverse roles under three different head coaches. He was Offensive Line Assistant and the program's first Recruiting Assistant from 2008-2010, contributing to the Bobcats' 2008 Southland Conference Championship and NCAA Division I FCS quarterfinal appearance. In 2008, the Bobcat offense finished seventh nationally in scoring, eighth in total offense. In 2009, the offense ranked seventh nationally in Passing and 12th in scoring offense. Between 2011 and 2012, he supported student-athletes as a Football Academic Mentor and worked as an instant replay technician. After a brief hiatus, Langi returned as a recruiting assistant from 2014 through 2016.
Beyond his professional experience, Langi has unique insight into the recruiting process as the parent to a Division I volleyball athlete. His daughter, Lusia, was named an AVCA 2nd Team All-American while attending Hays High School, setting thirteen school records, and proving herself as one of the top Middle Blockers in Texas. She currently competes as a sophomore at Utah Tech University, majoring in Sports Management, and earned Freshman All-WAC honors in 2024. Lusia is thriving in the NIL space as a member of the 2025 Varsity Team for Dick’s Sporting Goods as well as taking part in the 2025 NCAA x Meta NIL Empowerment Program.
The Langi family boasts a rich athletic tradition. His brother, Taani, played collegiate volleyball for Columbia College, contributing to their 1999 NAIA National Championship. Sister Mia was Trinity High School’s first All-State volleyball honoree and later played for North Carolina A&T. Athletes in his extended family include uncles Sione Tavo Le’ota-Motu’apuaka, Kuluni Le’ota-Motu’apuaka, Sio Le’ota-Motu’apuaka, and Soakai Motu’apuaka who were members of Tonga’s national rugby team. Sione Tavo, known as ‘Tevolo Tonga’ (‘the Tongan Devil’), holds legendary status in the South Pacific.
Langi received his bachelor’s degree in Exercise & Sports Science from Texas State University and is a graduate of Trinity High School (Euless, TX). He is the son of Fakasi’ima’anga (“Miki”) and the late Sekope Langi. Together with his wife Stephanie, they have two children: Lusia Lou Fakasi’ima’anga ‘A Fatafehi Kia Tungi and Cannon Uho ‘O Loto Ha’angana. His late grandfather, Sione Alaipulotu Motu’apuaka, served as the Royal Talking Chief for the King of Tonga
