UNI extends hoops coach Ben Jacobson’s contract 2 years

CEDAR FALLS — The University of Northern Iowa announced Thursday it has extended the contract of head men's basketball coach Ben Jacobson two years, to March 31, 2027.

Jacobson signed a 10-year deal in 2015 that paid him an average annual salary of $900,000.

'Jake is one of the premier coaches in the Missouri Valley Conference and one of the best coaches in the country,' UNI Director of Athletics David Harris said in a press release. 'While we didn't have the success that we all hoped for this past season, we all have great optimism about our future because of Jake's leadership. Panther basketball has gone to another level in success and national prominence over the past decade. Our teams are consistently competing for conference regular season and tournament championships and earning postseason berths. We are excited about further solidifying Jake's place as the leader of our men's basketball program.'

UNI went 14-16 this past season, Jacobson's 11th as head coach, finishing third in the MVC, the school's eighth consecutive top-four finish. The Panthers lost in the first round of the MVC Tournament.

Jacobson is UNI's all-time wins leader with 234. The program was the only one in the MVC to have a perfect Academic Progress Rate in each of the past four seasons.

'I want to thank David Harris and President Mark Nook for their confidence in both our staff and our program,' Jacobson said in a release. 'We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of our student-athletes over the past number of years. As we look ahead, our focus remains on raising the bar academically and competitively. We could not be more excited about the group we currently have and the opportunity to continue to lead our Panther men's basketball program.'

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