LOGAN, Utah — Utah State has hired longtime Northern Iowa head coach Ben Jacobson to replace the departed Jerrod Calhoun, the school's Director of Athletics, Cameron Walker, announced Monday.
Jacobson will take over the Aggies basketball program after spending the last 20 seasons at Northern Iowa, where he won 397 games, and most famously, upset No. 1 seed Kansas in the 2010 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
"Ben is not only an exceptional person, but across the industry is regarded as one of the best coaches in the country. He will be a tremendous leader and builder of men for our program," said Walker.
Jacobson replaces Calhoun, who left Utah State last week after two seasons to become the new head coach at the University of Cincinnati.
Jacobson is expected to sign a five-year deal to coach the Aggies ahead of the school's move to the Pac-12 Conference.
"I'm thankful for the opportunity to join Utah State as it enters its next chapter in the Pac-12," said Jacobson. "I'm grateful to Cameron Walker for trusting me to lead such a historic program and to continue its tradition as one of the top men's basketball programs in the West. I look forward to getting to know Aggie Nation and the HURD, and for my family to become part of the Cache Valley and Logan community."
During his time as head coach at Northern Iowa, Jacobson led the Panthers to five NCAA Tournament appearances, while averaging nearly 20 wins per season.
