LOGAN, Utah – Utah State tapped one of the most successful head coaches of the past two decades, Ben Jacobson, as its 23rd men’s basketball head coach in program history on Monday, as announced by Utah State Vice President and Director of Athletics Cameron Walker.
Jacobson is one of the most respected and consistent winners in college basketball, bringing a track record of sustained success, player development and championship culture to Utah State. He comes to Logan after a successful 20-year tenure at the University of Northern Iowa, where he built a dominant program. His teams earned multiple top-25 rankings, posted NCAA Tournament wins over top-seeded opponents and achieved strong academic and on-court success.
“Utah State is one of the country’s premier men’s basketball programs, and we needed a leader who embodies that tradition and is committed to building on our rich history,” said Walker. “Ben is not only an exceptional person, but across the industry is regarded as one of the best coaches in the country. He will be a tremendous leader and builder of men for our program. As we enter the new Pac-12, it’s critical that our leader drives us to new heights. Ben shares that same passion and vision, and I am thrilled to welcome him and his wife, Dawn, to Cache Valley.”
Jacobson posted a 397-259 (.605) record in 20 seasons at UNI, finishing his time in Cedar Falls as the program’s all-time wins leader and averaging 19.8 wins per season. He guided the Panthers to five NCAA Tournament appearances, including 2026, and four tournament victories.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to join Utah State as it enters its next chapter in the Pac-12,” Jacobson said. “I’m grateful to Cameron Walker for trusting me to lead such a historic program and to continue its tradition as one of the top men’s basketball programs in the West. I look forward to getting to know Aggie Nation and the HURD, and for my family to become part of the Cache Valley and Logan community.”
During that span, he led UNI to the Sweet 16 in 2010 with wins over UNLV and No. 1-seeded Kansas in Oklahoma City, Okla. The Panthers tallied their third NCAA Tournament victory under Jacobson in 2015, defeating Wyoming, before a thrilling half-court buzzer-beater against Texas in the 2016 tournament. In total, 10 of his teams made the postseason, playing in the NCAA Tournament five times, the NIT three times and the CollegeInsider.com Tournament twice.
Jacobson’s tenure at UNI was highlighted by multiple historic seasons, including nine conference or tournament championships, deep postseason runs and top-25 national rankings, as his teams consistently competed at a high level.
He is the league’s all-time leader in conference wins with 220 and conference tournament wins with 24. He ranked second in Missouri Valley Conference history in overall wins and was the only coach in league history to record wins over two different No. 1-ranked teams (Kansas in 2010 and North Carolina in 2015). In 2024, he earned his 188th conference victory, surpassing legendary coach Henry P. Iba to become the Missouri Valley Conference’s all-time leader in conference wins.
He was a five-time Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year, becoming the first coach in MVC history to earn the honor five times.
Under his tutelage, three players earned the Larry Bird MVC Player of the Year award four times, while more than 30 players received all-MVC honors, highlighted by 11 first-team selections. UNI also had 12 players named to the MVC all-newcomer or all-freshman teams, with three earning freshmen of the year honors. Off the court, four players combined for five MVC scholar-athlete of the year awards.
Since arriving in Cedar Falls as an assistant coach in 2001, Jacobson helped develop nearly two dozen players who went on to play professionally.
Before earning his first head coaching role at UNI, he was hired as the top assistant in 2001, helping turn around the program before taking the reins as head coach in 2006. Jacobson began coaching at the University of North Dakota in 1993-94, then spent two years as a graduate assistant and four as a full-time assistant before joining Greg McDermott at North Dakota State in 2000-01.
Jacobson starred at North Dakota from 1989-93, finishing as the program’s all-time assist leader. UND made two Elite Eight appearances, four regional appearances and won two conference championships. He earned NCC all-academic honors in 1993 and hall of fame recognition as a member of the 1989-90 team.
A Mayville, North Dakota, native, Jacobson graduated from Mayville-Portland High School in 1989 as valedictorian. He received his bachelor’s degree in physical education from the University of North Dakota in 1994.
Jacobson and his wife, Dawn, have two children, Hunter and Tanner. Hunter played for his father at UNI and was a redshirt junior in 2025-26.
An introductory press conference is set for Tuesday, March 31 at 9 a.m., on the third floor of the West Stadium Center at Maverik Stadium. The event is open to the public.
What they are saying about Ben Jacobson
“Ben is not only an exceptional coach but also a truly remarkable person. He has achieved tremendous success at Northern Iowa, and this opportunity at Utah State gives him the chance to build on that success both on the court and within the community. I’m excited for him and his family as they embark on this exciting new chapter in their lives.”
Purdue Head Men’s Basketball Coach Matt Painter
“Ben and I have known each other for many years, and I admire him as both a coach and a person. During my time back at Northern Iowa as interim AD, I got to know him even better. He’s a complete basketball coach, an excellent recruiter, and a terrific fundraiser who will help Utah State on the court, in the community, and with donors. He could have gone many places, and Utah State is a great landing spot for him and his family.”
Former athletic director at the University of Northern Iowa, University of Iowa, and Stanford University, and former Big 12 Commissioner, Bob Bowlsby.
“I’ve known Ben for more than 20 years, and his coaching record and success speak for themselves. I know him on a different level, having worked together in Iowa on Coaches vs. Cancer initiatives. He and Dawn are dear friends, and I’m thrilled for him and his family as they take on this tremendous opportunity. I’m confident he will do an outstanding job at Utah State and in the Logan community.”
Penn John R. Rockwell Head Coach of Men’s Basketball Fran McCaffery
“I have been involved in sports for quite some time and Ben Jacobson is one of the best coaches, teachers and role models that I have had the pleasure to work with. During our overlapping tenures at Northern Iowa, I saw up close his authentic commitment to student-athletes, his passion for the game of basketball and his high character and integrity in every aspect of his life. I am thrilled for Ben and for Utah State, which is getting an outstanding coach and an even better person.”
University of Nebraska Athletic Director Troy Dannen
“Coach Jacobson is everything you want in a head coach. He has a great basketball mind, is high character and is completely committed to his players. He will represent Utah State is a first-class manner. Congratulations to the Aggies on a terrific hire!”
Former Creighton, Iowa State University, University of Northern Iowa and North Dakota State Head Coach Greg McDermott
“Ben Jacobson is one of the great coaches in our sport, and Utah State is fortunate to land a coach of his caliber. He built Northern Iowa into one of the top programs in the Missouri Valley Conference for the past two decades. When I was at Iowa State, we played his UNI teams several times over the years, and you always knew you would be in for a battle. I have so much respect for the job he has done over the years. Not only is he great with X’s and O’s, but his teams were always disciplined and well-coached, and that is a sign of the sustained culture he built in that program. I’ve known Ben for a long time, and he is not only an outstanding coach, but a first-class individual. I am excited for Ben, Dawn, and their family to have this opportunity.”
University of Nebraska Head Coach Fred Hoiberg
“Coach Jacobson is a great leader and a fantastic person. I was close to him, fortunate to play for him and had the opportunity to learn under him for two years, which helped me coach in the NBA. He has been incredibly supportive every step of the way and was one of the first to reach out after my professional playing career ended. I’m very happy for him as he begins this new path. I wish him and his family all the best as they embark on their journey in Logan.”
Former UNI shooting guard and Phoenix Suns Assistant Coach John Little
