Utah State is set to hand the keys of its men's basketball program to longtime Northern Iowa coach Ben Jacobson, according to multiple reports. Jacobson, 55, is leaving a 20-year run at UNI that turned him into one of the Missouri Valley Conference's steadiest winners, and he is expected to replace Jerrod Calhoun, who left for Cincinnati earlier this month.
ESPN has tracked Jacobson throughout this season's coaching carousel. The New York Times reported on March 30 that Utah State is set to hire Jacobson, citing a source close to the program and noting his age.
Jacobson's record at Northern Iowa
Jacobson leaves UNI as the Panthers' all-time winningest coach with 397 victories and a two-decade tenure, per UNI Athletics. His résumé includes five MVC Coach of the Year awards, multiple regular-season and tournament titles, and several NCAA and postseason appearances, highlighted by Northern Iowa's memorable 2010 Sweet 16 run.
Arch Madness and the March résumé
Jacobson wrapped the 2025–26 season by guiding Northern Iowa to a 23–13 record and an improbable MVC tournament charge. The Panthers ripped off four wins in four days to capture Arch Madness, according to the New York Times. That late surge punched UNI's ticket to the NCAA Tournament and underscored Jacobson's knack for squeezing the most out of veteran rosters in March.
Coaching carousel and the Pac-12 stage
The timing of the hire is no small detail. Utah State is gearing up to join the Pac-12 on July 1, as part of the conference's reconfiguration and expansion, per the Pac-12. Jacobson steps into a program that has become a springboard for coaches, with Jerrod Calhoun bolting for Cincinnati earlier this month in a move chronicled by CBS Sports. For Utah State, this is a clear bet on long-haul program building as the Aggies move into a higher-profile league.
As of publication, Utah State had not yet released contract terms or a formal introduction. The move remains described as "set to" in initial coverage and is expected to be finalized in the coming days. This story will be updated as the university makes details and statements public.
