Ben Jacobson could have left Northern Iowa more than once. Instead, the 53-year-old has made Cedar Falls his basketball home. As he begins his 20th season leading the Panthers, he remains one of college basketball’s most respected and loyal coaches.
A Legacy Built on Stability and Success
Since taking over in 2006, Jacobson has become synonymous with Northern Iowa basketball. The program’s golden stretch came between 2009 and 2016, when the Panthers reached four NCAA Tournaments in eight seasons, including a memorable Sweet 16 run in 2010 after a 30-5 campaign.
Jacobson has racked up 374 career wins, four NCAA Tournament victories, and eight Missouri Valley Conference titles, four in the regular season and four in the tournament. He’s also been named MVC Coach of the Year five times, further cementing his legacy as one of the league’s greats.
Before coaching, Jacobson was a standout player himself, a North Dakota Mr. Basketball winner who went on to star at the University of North Dakota before finding his place on the sidelines.
Building Another Contender in Cedar Falls
The Panthers have gone 39-27 over the past two seasons, including a trip to the NIT last year. Yet, the goal remains clear: getting back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016.
Jacobson’s roster features a mix of proven veterans and promising newcomers. Trey Campbell, a homegrown standout named to the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook Preseason All-Conference Team, will lead the offense after averaging 11.3 points per game last year. Ben Schiweger, a steady two-way presence from Chicago, contributed nearly 10 points and was one of the team’s top rebounders.
Northern Iowa also welcomes a trio of transfers, headlined by NAIA All-American Tristan Smith from Concordia. Joining him are Canadians Ismael Diouf and Croatian forward Marino Dubravcic. Two freshmen, Jalen Wilson and Geon Hutchins, round out a deep, balanced roster.
In a wide-open Missouri Valley Conference, experience and continuity could be the Panthers’ biggest weapons. For Jacobson, who’s seen nearly everything the game has to offer, one thing remains unchanged, the drive to get Northern Iowa back to March Madness.