Entering his ninth season as head coach, Mike Jacobs has helped return the University of Evansville to national prominence. He inherited a program that won only two games the year prior to his arrival, and immediately transformed them into the nation’s most improved team in 2006. With winning seasons in six of his eight seasons at the helm, Jacobs has led the Aces to the finals of the 2009 MVC Tournament and the opportunity to play for the MVC regular-season title in 2012.
He took over the program in 2006 and in his first season, UE produced the nation’s most improved record by going 9-8-0. However, that wasn’t all. That same season, Evansville posted its best non-conference record (7-3-0) since 1996 and placed fifth in the highly regarded Missouri Valley Conference, marking the Aces’ highest finish since 1999.
In 2007, playing a more difficult schedule, the Aces won 10 games for the first time since 1999 and climbed two more spots in the MVC standings, finishing third behind a pair of teams that went on to reach the NCAA Sweet 16. UE also advanced to the MVC Tournament semifinals for the first time since 1999 and finished sixth nationally by scoring 45 goals.
Jacobs once again led the Aces to a winning record in 2008, as UE played seven nationally-ranked teams during the course of the season. Mike Luttrull and Robby Lynch were each chosen for the All-Midwest Regional Team and a total of nine members of the squad received All-MVC honors. As a result of his efforts, Jacobs was awarded a contract extension through the 2012 season. His 2008 team was ranked as high as No. 21 in the nation by Soccer Times - an amazing feat considering the program had won just two games in 2005, a year prior to the arrival of Jacobs and his staff.
In 2009, UE posted its fourth-straight winning season, reached the MVC Tournament final and narrowly missed advancing to the NCAA Tournament. A record-tying four players made the All-Midwest Region Team, while Luttrull and Lynch earned national scholastic honors. The 2009 team was recognized by each of the major national polls, receiving votes in the Soccer Times and NSCAA national rankings, while earning a national ranking in the Top Drawer Soccer polls. The 2009 season marked the second-consecutive season that the Aces were among the nation’s top 50 in attendance.
The 2010 squad produced a pair of all-region players in Lynch and defender Aaron Henkle and Lynch was tabbed the MVC Defensive Player of the Year. In January 2011, Lynch was chosen by the expansion Portland Timbers in the Major League Soccer (MLS) supplemental draft. Lynch was one of six Aces who earned All-MVC postseason honors following the season. In addition, Luttrull was chosen for the second year in a row as an Academic All-American and Lynch was named an NSCAA Scholar All-American for the second-straight year.
The 2011 season was full of close encounters, as nine of Evansville’s 17 matches were decided by one goal. The young squad boasted five all-conference honors with seniors Jarrett Robbins and Aaron Henkle earning All-MVC Second Team and All-MVC Honorable Mention nods, respectively. With great first-year campaigns, Patrick Hodges, Eric Teppen and Ryan Stallings were named to the MVC All-Freshman Team.
Jacobs guided the Aces to yet another winning season in 2012 and a third-place finish in the Valley standings. UE nearly captured the MVC regular-season title, as it hosted Creighton on the final day of the regular season in a match that would determine the league’s regular-season champion. Freshman Faik Hajderovic was named to the All-Midwest Region team and was selected by Top Drawer Soccer, along with classmate Nate Opperman, as one of the top 100 freshmen in the country. Nine Aces were selected to All-MVC squads, including sophomore Nick Schroeder, who highlighted the selections by earning a spot on the All-MVC Second Team.
The 2013 season saw the Aces win double-digit victories, finishing with a 10-8-1 record. Non-conference victories over #4 ranked Saint Louis University and #12 ranked Butler University marked the fifth straight season that the Aces have defeated a team either ranked in the top 25 in the national polls or also receiving votes (2009: Drake; 2010: Washington; 2011: Memphis; 2012: SIUE).
Jacobs began his coaching career shortly after he graduated from Pace University in Pleasantville, N.Y. in 1993. He served as the head coach at Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y. from 1996-99, and was named the 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 1997. At age 24, Jacobs was the youngest Division I head coach in the country.
Jacobs joined the University of Evansville program for the first time in 2000, when he was hired by legendary coach Fred Schmalz as the Purple Aces’ top assistant coach.
After two seasons at UE, Jacobs moved on to serve as the top assistant at Duke University, where he helped head coach John Rennie’s Blue Devils to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including the semifinals of the 2004 College Cup. Jacobs was named the inaugural winner of the NSCAA National Assistant Coach of the Year award that same year and was listed by College Soccer News as one of the “Top Assistant Coaches in the Country” four-consecutive years. In 2005, he helped guide Duke to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship, before returning to Evansville as the head coach in 2006.
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 MetroStars head coach Alfonso Mondelo. He also assisted with the North Jersey Imperials of the USISL, where he coached former United States Under-23 National Team assistant coach Tim Mulqueen. Jacobs has served on the US Soccer National Goalkeeping Staff and USL Super Y-League National Coaching Staff, and currently serves on the NSCAA Senior Academy Staff.
Jacobs has developed a reputation for being able to identify and develop professional players, both in the United States and abroad. This group includes Stefani Miglioranzi (formerly of the Philadelphia Union); Cory Elenio of the Wilmington Hammerheads; Alec Dufty, (formerly of Chicago Fire); Michael Videira of the Chicago Fire; Darrius Barnes of the New England Revolution; Ray Burse and Spencer Wadsworth (formerly of FC Dallas); Blake Camp (formerly of the New York Red Bulls); Jordan Cila (formerly of the New York Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake and Colorado Rapids); Chris Loftus (formerly of the New England Revolution and Swedish first division); Kyle Helton (formerly of the New England Revolution); Mike Grella (Leeds United of English Coca-Cola Championship); and Brad Guzan (Aston Villa FC of the English Premier League and US National Team).
A longtime advocate for the growth of soccer at the youth, collegiate and professional levels, Jacobs was elected as the Vice President for Events of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) in January 2012. The NSCAA is the largest coaching organization in the world with more than 30,000 members. In 2013, Jacobs represented the NSCAA at the Missouri Athletic Club banquet in St. Louis, where he had the honoring of presenting the Hermann Trophy to the Collegiate Soccer Players of the Year.
He was elected to the NSCAA Board of Directors in 2009 and currently serves on the NSCAA Executive Committee that provides leadership and sets policy for youth, high school, college and professional soccer in the United States. Jacobs is expected to become the NSCAA’s president in 2015.
“My initial interest in being involved in the Board of Directors was to have a chance to grow the game of soccer on a larger level,” Jacobs says. “The opportunity to serve as secretary gives me an opportunity to have a presence at the local, regional, national and international levels of our game. It’s pretty humbling to serve in this fashion in the largest coaching organization in the world.”
Jacobs holds a USSF “A” license and an NSCAA Advanced National Diploma, in addition to completing the English League Managers Association (LMA) School of Football Management certificate. In a growling role with the NSCAA, Jacobs has written for NSCAA publications, has co-authored a chapter in the Soccer Coaches Bible along with Coach Rennie, and currently writes a column on soccer for the Sunday edition of the Evansville Courier & Press.
He has 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, while the ProRehab HEALTHY BODIES, HEALTHY MINDS program encourages healthy lifestyle habits with exercise and diet. “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” campaign began in 2008 as a fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation. Team members have also participated in Habitat for Humanity, Circle K Special Education Prom, the Martin Luther King Jr. 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. Jacobs will become the NSCAA's President in January.
Mike and his wife, Jennifer, reside in Evansville with their four children - Katherine (16), Daniel (12), Allison (11) and Amanda (9).
