Former Notre Dame College Football coach and 2018 Don Hansen Football gazette coach of the year in 2018 Mike Jacobs has been hired as the head coach at Mercer. "My family and I are humbled to be joining the Mercer University football family. Mercer is an elite institution that has competed at the highest level both on and off the field and in the classroom. We look forward to immersing ourselves in both the campus community as well as the city of Macon. Go Bears!," Jacobs said.
Jacobs is the third head coach since Mercer reinstated the football program in 2013 and takes over for Drew Cronic who departed to become the offensive coordinator at Navy. Jacobs is 74-17 in two stops at Notre Dame College and Lenoir Ryhne and took both schools to the Final Four. Here is the list of the top 10 win percentages of active coaches:
Kalen DeBoer- Alabama: .897
Ryan Day- Ohio State- .875
Tony Annese- Ferris State- .860
Kirby Smart- Georgia- .855
Paul Simmons- Harding- .833
Mike Jacobs- Mercer- .813
Curt Wise- Minnesotta Duluth- .808
Lincoln Riley- USC- .804
Ernie McCook- .803
Dabo Swinney- Clemson- .798
Jacobs was the coach at NDC when they started the run of five consecutive MEC Championships and took the Falcons to the Final four. After winning the MEC in 2019 he debated for Lenoir Rhyne University in 2020.
"I could not be more excited for Coach Jacobs with his new opportunity at Mercer University, "former NDC offensive lineman Adam Riegler said. "After our run to the final four I knew that I could be playing for a coach who could be coaching at a power five school in D1 one day and before you know it that'll be the next step. The sky is the limit for Coach Jacobs and it was truly an honor to be able to play for a coach who has the passion he has for the game and his players."
After departing NDC Jacobs headed to Lenior Ryhne University in 2020 and he compiled a 32-9 record at LR. The Bears won three league division titles and were the 2023 South Athletic Conference Champions before making a run to the Final Four.
Jacobs was an offensive lineman for John Cooper and Jim Tressel at Ohio State from 1997-2001.
"I'm happy for him and his family. He deserves it,"former NDC defensive lineman Sha'haun Williams mentioned. "Coach Jacobs is a great coach, he is not stranger to winning and has been to the final four at both schools he has gone to. His success is a testament of the work he, his family, and his staff put in. It's only the beginning, and I can''t wait to watch him succeed at the D1 level now as well."
Comments