Reports: Utah State reaches agreement with next men’s basketball head coach

Mar 30, 2026, 8:58 AM

Head coach Ben Jacobson of the Northern Iowa Panthers speaks with the referee in the first half of the game in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 20, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Sean M. Haffey, Getty Images)

(Sean M. Haffey, Getty Images)

BY BRIAN PREECE, KSL

KSLNewsRadio

LOGAN — The Utah State Aggies have reportedly agreed to terms with former Northern Iowa head coach Ben Jacobson to be the program’s next men’s basketball head coach.

Multiple reports surfaced on Monday, March 30, that Jacobson would be ending a 20-year stint as the Panthers’ head coach and signing a five-year contract with Utah State.

Jacobson takes over for Jerrod Calhoun after Calhoun accepted the head coaching position at the University of Cincinnati.

Northern Iowa reached the 2026 NCAA Tournament, where they lost to St. John’s as a 12-seed.

About Ben Jacobson

The Mayville, North Dakota, native has been on the Northern Iowa coaching staff since 2001, when he was the program’s top assistant.

He became the 21st head coach in Panthers history when he was elevated to the lead job in 2006.

The 55-year-old has amassed a 397-259 (.605) career record while leading the Panthers into the NCAA Tournament five times.

In 2009, Jacobson’s Northern Iowa reached the Sweet 16 after upsetting No. 1 Kansas as a nine-seed.

Jacobson and his wife, Dawn, have two children, Hunter and Tanner.

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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.

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Reports: Utah State reaches agreement with next men’s basketball head coach

About Ben Jacobson

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