Utah State Lures Northern Iowa's Ben Jacobson With 5-Year Deal

Jacobson leaves after 20 seasons leading the Panthers program.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 1:05pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting the abstracted forms of basketball players in motion, rendered in a vibrant color palette of blues, oranges, and greens, conceptually representing the shift in college basketball coaching.A cubist interpretation of the coaching transition from Northern Iowa to Utah State, capturing the dynamic energy and shifting perspectives of college basketball.Cincinnati Today

After 20 seasons as the head coach of Northern Iowa, Ben Jacobson is leaving the program to take over at Utah State. Jacobson, who won 397 games at Northern Iowa, will sign a 5-year deal with the Aggies.

Why it matters

Jacobson's departure is a major shift for the Northern Iowa program, which he led to five NCAA Tournament appearances. Utah State has had significant turnover at the head coaching position in recent years, so Jacobson's hiring could bring much-needed stability as the Aggies look to build on their recent tournament success.

The details

Jacobson was immediately successful at Northern Iowa, going 18-13 in his first season in 2002-03. Over his 20-year tenure, he compiled a 397-259 record, leading the team to five NCAA Tournament berths. This season, Northern Iowa lost in the first round to St. John's. Utah State, meanwhile, made the tournament this year, upsetting Villanova in the first round before falling to Arizona in the second round. The Aggies have made the NCAA Tournament in six of the last eight seasons, but have had four different head coaches over that span.

  • Jacobson spent the last 20 seasons as the head coach at Northern Iowa.
  • Northern Iowa lost in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
  • Utah State made the 2026 NCAA Tournament, upsetting Villanova before losing to Arizona.

The players

Ben Jacobson

The former head coach of Northern Iowa, who is leaving the program after 20 seasons to take the head coaching job at Utah State.

Jerrod Calhoun

The former head coach of Utah State, who left the program to take the head coaching job at Cincinnati.

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What they’re saying

“Ben Jacobson is one of the most respected coaches in college basketball, and we're thrilled to have him leading our program.”

— Utah State Athletic Director

What’s next

Jacobson will be formally introduced as Utah State's new head coach in the coming days.

The takeaway

Jacobson's move from Northern Iowa to Utah State represents a significant shift in the college basketball landscape, as one of the most successful mid-major coaches in the country takes over a program that has experienced a lot of recent success but also turnover at the head coaching position.