Jacobson gets new 10-year deal at UNI

University of Northern Iowa head men's basketball coach Ben Jacobson has signed a new 10-year deal to stay at UNI.

UNI athletics director Troy Dannen announced the deal at the start of a sendoff ceremony in Cedar Falls.

The deal will keep Jacobson as coach of the Panthers through the year 2020.

Dannen called Jacobson “one of the top young coaches in the nation and also a great educator and mentor for student-athletes.”

The new agreement will guarantee Jacobson $450,000 with annual increases of $25,000 through the term of the deal. Jacobson's current UNI contract is $289,000 per year.

A crowd of at least 500 people took part in today's sendoff, as UNI heads to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA men's basketball tournament in St. Louis.

-- Dave Franzman, KCRG-TV9