The optimism and improvement surrounding the University of Evansville men's soccer program has resulted in a contract extension for Head Coach Mike Jacobs. UE Director of Athletics John Stanley announced today that Jacobs' contract has been extended through the 2012 season. Jacobs is in his third season as the Aces' head coach.
“Mike has done an exceptional job as coach of the University of Evansville men’s soccer team during his tenure,” Stanley said. “He has become a very popular community figure, particularly in the local soccer community. Additionally, our teams have improved annually and our school is receiving national recognition for the improvement in the program. Because of these factors and many others, I am very pleased we were able to work out a contract extension to assure that Mike will be a part of our University community well into the future.”
Added Jacobs, “I am really excited about the future of Evansville Purple Aces soccer, and about my own continuing role in that. The opportunity to provide stability allows for continued enhancement in our program, both on and off the field. This is also the result of tireless effort from our players, assistant coaches Marshall Ray and Mike Miller, and our support staff, and is crucial for us to maintain our commitment to excellence. I also want to thank John Stanley for his encouragement and support throughout this process.”
Jacobs took over the UE program in 2006, and the Aces immediately produced the nation’s most improved record, winning seven more games than the year before to finish at 9-8-0. 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.
Then 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. Eight players earned MVC post-season honors, and five return for the 2008 season, which begins this Saturday with an exhibition match at the University of Louisville. Evansville’s success even spilled over to the classroom last season. 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.
Coach Jacobs came to Evansville with knowledge of the program, having served as an assistant coach in 2000 and 2001 for legendary coach Fred Schmalz. 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’ 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. Through his prior experiences as a US Soccer and USL Super Y-League national staff coach, Jacobs has helped develop a number of professional players, including Stefani Miglioranzi and Cory Elenio for the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer (MLS), Spencer Wadsworth and Kyle Helton of the New England Revolution (MLS), Ray Burse (FC Dallas), Chris Loftus (Swedish first division) and Brad Guzan with Aston Villa (English Premier League).
Jacobs is actively involved in the Evansville community, and has started a number of programs to help connect Aces Soccer with its supporters. ‘Kick The Cold, Give A Coat’ provides coats for those who are less fortunate during the holiday season, and the campaign is directed by players and coaches in conjunction with the Aces Soccer Camp. 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. Team members and coaches have been involved in Habitat For Humanity, Kick For The Cure, Circle K Special Ed Prom, the MLK Walk, the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, and Riley Walkathon. Coach Jacobs is the author of several articles in NSCAA publications, and Jacobs 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 edition of the Evansville Courier & Press. Mike and his wife, Jennifer, have four children–Katherine (11), Daniel (7), Allison (5) and Amanda (3).
