Template:X2

Mike Jacobs (born on August 27, 1971 in Nyack, New York) is the current head soccer coach at the University of Evansville.

Before taking over at the University of Evansville, he was the top assistant at Duke University, where they went to the College Cup in 2004 and won the ACC Championship in 2005. He was honored by the NSCAA as the inaugural winner of the NATIONAL ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR.

Background/College Career

Jacobs has produced three consecutive winning seasons at the University of Evansville for the first time since legendary coach Fred Schmalz did the same in the mid-90s.

Jacobs took over the program in 2006, intent on returning the Purple Aces to their winning ways quickly. In his first year, the Aces produced the nation’s most improved record, winning seven more games than the year before to finish at 9-8-0. That wasn’t all. UE in 2006 posted its best non-conference record (7-3-0) since 1996, and the Purple Aces' fifth place finish in the highly regarded Missouri Valley Conference was their highest since 1999.

In 2007, playing a more difficult schedule, the Aces won 10 games for the first time since 1999. They climbed two more places in the MVC standings, finishing third behind two teams that eventually reached the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 last November. UE also reached the MVC Tournament semifinals for the first time since 1999. And, two years after averaging less than one goal per game, the 2007 Aces finished sixth nationally in scoring with 45 goals. Evansville’s success even spilled over to the classroom. The Aces earned the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Team Academic Award for posting a team grade point average of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale.

Then in 2008, playing seven teams that were nationally ranked at some time during the season, Jacobs led the Aces to another winning streak despite having a squad comprised primarily of freshmen and sophomores, and despite having leading scorer Mike Luttrull miss much of the last half of the season with an injury. Luttrull and fellow sophomore Robby Lynch were chosen for the All-Midwest Region Team, and a total of nine members of the squad earned all-Missouri Valley Conference honors.

Coach Jacobs has impressed the entire Evansville soccer community with his spirit, confidence and hard work. He came to Evansville with knowledge of the program, having served as an assistant coach in 2000 and 2001 for legendary coach Fred Schmalz. Jacobs worked tirelessly to reach out to fans and alumni, and quickly instilled pride in his players.

In the four years prior to 2006, Jacobs served as the top assistant coach at Duke University, where he helped lead coach John Rennie’s Blue Devils to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including the semifinals of the 2004 College Cup. The 2005 Blue Devils won the ACC Championship. In the season before Jacobs’ arrival on the Duke campus, the Blue Devils suffered through their worst season in school history, at 8-10-1. Jacobs was named inaugural winner of the NSCAA National Assistant Coach of the Year award in 2004. He was listed by College Soccer News as one of the ‘Top Assistant Coaches in the Country’ four years in a row.

Jacobs is a 1993 graduate of Pace University in Pleasantville, N.Y. He was Head Coach at Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y. from 1996-99, and was the 1997 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Coach of the Year after taking a team that finished 1-17-1 in 1996 and leading the Gaels to a 12-6 record in ‘97. At age 24, he was the youngest Division I Head Coach in the country, and from 1997 to ‘99 Jacobs led the Gaels to their best three-year record ever.

Jacobs also started a number of programs to help connect Aces Soccer with its supporters. ‘Kick The Cold, Give A Coat’ provides coats for those less fortunate during the holiday season. The Integra Bank ‘Score with the Aces’ reading program encourages elementary school students to read with their parents. ‘Kick for Nick’ is a cooperative effort between Aces Soccer and the Lambda Chi fraternity to collect used soccer balls to send to children in Iraq. UE’s ‘Kick For The Cure’ began in 2008 as a fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen For the Cure Foundation. Team members have also been involved in Habitat For Humanity, Circle K Special Ed Prom, the MLK Walk, and Riley Walkathon. In addition, the Aces Soccer Camp is one of the largest soccer camps in the country, serving youth players from all over the United States.

Professional Coaching Experience

Jacobs’ professional coaching experience includes assisting with the Long Island Rough Riders, where he worked with former Tampa Bay Mutiny and New York/New Jersey head coach Alfonso Mondelo.

He also assisted with the North Jersey Imperials of the USISL, where he coached current United States Under-23 National Team assistant coach Tim Mulqueen.

Jacobs has previously served on the US Soccer and USL Super Y-League national coaching staffs as a member of the goalkeeping staff, and has developed a reputation for identifying and developing professional players. The group includes Stefani Miglioranzi of the LA Galaxy; Cory Elenio and Alec Dufty of the Columbus Crew; Michael Videira, Darrius Barnes and Kyle Helton of the New England Revolution; Ray Burse and Spencer Wadsworth of FC Dallas; Blake Camp of the New York Red Bulls; and Chris Loftus (Swedish first division), Mike Grella (Leeds United–England) and Brad Guzan (Aston Villa FC–England), all of whom are playing abroad.

Jacobs holds a USSF ‘A’ license and an NSCAA Advanced National Diploma.

Writer

Jacobs has written for NSCAA publications, has co-authored a chapter in the Soccer Coaches Bible along with Duke’s John Rennie.

He currently writes a bi-weekly column on soccer for the Sunday Evansville Courier & Press.

Jacobs is a regular contributor for the NSCAA Soccer Journal, and was recently named as a member of their editorial staff.

Jacobs had written for the The Journal News of the Westchester Gannett Newspapers while as a high school student in 1987-89.

Family

Jacobs is married to his wife, Jennifer, and are the parents of four children–Katherine, Daniel, Allison and Amanda.

He comes from a sports family. His father, Sam, had played football and lacrosse at the University of Delaware, and then went on to coach basketball as a teacher in the South Bronx. His brother, Jon, is a former goalkeeper for the New York Fever of the APSL.

[1] University of Evansville, Men's Soccer, bio