UNI, Jacobson agree to 10-year extension

CEDAR FALLS - Northern Iowa and men's basketball coach Ben Jacobson have agreed in principle on a 10-year contract extension that will keep the nine-year head man in Cedar Falls through the 2024-25 season.

Financial terms have not yet been disclosed for Jacobson's new deal. He's signed two other long-term extensions in the past five years, having agreed to a 10-year extension in March 2010, and another 10-year extension in March 2013.

The deal in 2013 gave Jacobson a raise from the $450,000 per year deal he signed in 2010 to $525,000 with annual raises of $25,000 per year after. A similar raise can be expected this time around, and an official release with terms of the newest extension will be sent out by the university later in the week.

This extension further emphasizes the commitment Jacobson has repeatedly expressed toward UNI and the Waterloo/Cedar Falls community. In an interview with FOX Sports Radio in February, Jacobson commented on what being at UNI means to him and his family. He acknowledged then - and on several other occasions to several media outlets - that other schools have expressed interest, but will remain the Panthers' head man after another round of speculation.

'Yeah there's been interest (from other schools), no question ... This is a place where my wife and I, we've got two young boys and we've got a terrific program here and all kinds of support,” Jacobson FOX Sports Radio in February. 'All the things that you want to have in a high level job, we've got here.

'This is a great fit. Great fit for me, and it's been great fit for our school. And we're recruiting guys that can compete at a high level and are good kids. So this has been a good spot.”

Jacobson has been at Northern Iowa since 2001, when he started as an assistant under then-coach Greg McDermott. He took over as head coach for the 2006-07 season. Jacobson-led teams are 197-105 (. 652) and 103-59 (. 636) in Missouri Valley Conference play.

The Panthers have been to three NCAA Tournaments with Jacobson has head coach, a first-round exit in 2009, the famous Sweet 16 birth in 2010 and this year's third-round exit after falling to Louisville.

UNI finished this season 31-4 overall, notching a school record for victories in a season, and finished second in the MVC at 16-2. The Panthers also reached as high as No. 9 in the USA Today Coaches poll and No. 10 in the Associated Press Top 25 - both the highest rankings for UNI in those polls.

More information will be available at thegazette.com/sports when it is available.

l Comments: (319) 368-8884; jeremiah.davis@thegazette.com