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Missouri Valley Today
By the People, for the People
Utah State Hires Longtime Northern Iowa Coach Ben Jacobson
The Aggies are bringing in their seventh head coach in 13 years.
Mar. 30, 2026 at 2:53pm
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A cubist interpretation of the coaching transition at Utah State, as the Aggies look to find stability under new leadership.Missouri Valley TodayUtah State University has finalized a deal to hire Ben Jacobson as their new men's basketball head coach. Jacobson, 55, has spent the last 20 seasons leading the Northern Iowa Panthers, where he amassed 397 wins and guided the team to five NCAA Tournament appearances. He will now take over an Aggies program that has seen significant turnover, with Jacobson becoming their seventh head coach in the last 13 years.
Why it matters
Utah State has struggled with instability in its men's basketball program, cycling through multiple head coaches in recent years. Jacobson's hiring represents an effort to bring in an experienced, successful coach who can provide some much-needed consistency and stability to the Aggies' program.
The details
Jacobson's new contract with Utah State is reportedly a five-year deal. During his two-decade tenure at Northern Iowa, he led the Panthers to five NCAA Tournament berths, including a first-round exit this past season with a 79-53 loss to St. John's. Jacobson is replacing Jerrod Calhoun, who left Utah State after just two seasons to take the head coaching job at Cincinnati.
- Jacobson has spent the last 20 seasons as the head coach at Northern Iowa.
- This past season, Jacobson's Northern Iowa team suffered a first-round NCAA Tournament loss to St. John's.
- Jerrod Calhoun departed Utah State after two seasons to become the new head coach at Cincinnati.
The players
Ben Jacobson
A 55-year-old basketball coach who has spent the last 20 seasons as the head coach of the Northern Iowa Panthers, amassing 397 wins and leading the team to five NCAA Tournament appearances.
Jerrod Calhoun
The former head coach of the Utah State Aggies, who left the program after just two seasons to take the head coaching job at the University of Cincinnati.
What they’re saying
“We're thrilled to welcome Ben Jacobson to Utah State and look forward to the stability and success he will bring to our men's basketball program.”
— John Hartwell, Utah State Athletic Director
What’s next
Jacobson will begin assembling his coaching staff and preparing for his first season leading the Utah State Aggies, with the goal of quickly turning around the program and leading it back to the NCAA Tournament.
The takeaway
Utah State's hiring of Ben Jacobson represents an effort to bring in an experienced, proven head coach who can provide much-needed stability and consistency to a men's basketball program that has struggled with frequent coaching turnover in recent years.
