University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Jacobs Agrees to Two-Year Contract Extension
5/31/2017 10:00:00 AM | Softball
University of Northern Iowa Director of Athletics David Harris has announced that head softball coach Ryan Jacobs has agreed to a two-year contract extension through May 31, 2020.
"Ryan has rebuilt a Panther softball program that UNI can be very proud of," Harris said. "He and his staff have produced conference championships and have enjoyed success in the classroom. UNI softball has a rich history and Coach Jacobs and his staff are carrying on that tradition of excellence."
Jacobs led the 2017 Panther softball team to a share of the program's third Missouri Valley Conference regular season title. Jacobs and assistants Julie Starbuck and Matt Egger were honored as the MVC Coaching Staff of the Year in 2017. It marks the third time that Jacobs and his staff have earned the league's top coaching honor (2009, 2012, 2017).
"I want to thank David Harris, Christina Roybal and President Mark Nook for their confidence in our coaching staff and their support for the softball program," Jacobs said. "We look to continue to keep our student-athletes accountable to a high standard on and off the field, and continue to focus on developing our student-athletes for life after softball. We have great alumni support and a current group that is set on sustaining the success of Panther softball."
Jacobs has guided UNI to a 300-228 in 10 seasons as the helm of the program. He took over a program that had averaged 19 wins and only 7.4 victory in MVC play from 2003-2007. Since taking over, UNI has averaged 30.0 wins overall per season and 14.5 MVC wins per season.
UNI has also been just as successful in the classroom. The Panthers were honored as one of five UNI programs by the NCAA in 2017 for their latest multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores. UNI softball had a perfect 1,000 APR multi-year score. It is the first time that the UNI softball team has earned the top-10 percent NCAA APR recognition. Jacobs and his staff have a 987 yearly APR average through the 2015-16 report.
Under Jacobs' direction, UNI has finished with an above .500 record in MVC play in nine straight seasons. Prior to Jacobs taking over in 2008, UNI's last winning season in MVC play came in the 2000 season when Meredith Bakley led the Panthers to an 11-7 mark in league play.
His teams have set or tied 11 single-season school records while 40 players have received All-Missouri Valley Conference honors to go along with three MVC Newcomer of the Year honorees, two MVC Pitchers of the Year and an MVC Defensive Player of the Year.
"Ryan has rebuilt a Panther softball program that UNI can be very proud of," Harris said. "He and his staff have produced conference championships and have enjoyed success in the classroom. UNI softball has a rich history and Coach Jacobs and his staff are carrying on that tradition of excellence."
Jacobs led the 2017 Panther softball team to a share of the program's third Missouri Valley Conference regular season title. Jacobs and assistants Julie Starbuck and Matt Egger were honored as the MVC Coaching Staff of the Year in 2017. It marks the third time that Jacobs and his staff have earned the league's top coaching honor (2009, 2012, 2017).
"I want to thank David Harris, Christina Roybal and President Mark Nook for their confidence in our coaching staff and their support for the softball program," Jacobs said. "We look to continue to keep our student-athletes accountable to a high standard on and off the field, and continue to focus on developing our student-athletes for life after softball. We have great alumni support and a current group that is set on sustaining the success of Panther softball."
Jacobs has guided UNI to a 300-228 in 10 seasons as the helm of the program. He took over a program that had averaged 19 wins and only 7.4 victory in MVC play from 2003-2007. Since taking over, UNI has averaged 30.0 wins overall per season and 14.5 MVC wins per season.
UNI has also been just as successful in the classroom. The Panthers were honored as one of five UNI programs by the NCAA in 2017 for their latest multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores. UNI softball had a perfect 1,000 APR multi-year score. It is the first time that the UNI softball team has earned the top-10 percent NCAA APR recognition. Jacobs and his staff have a 987 yearly APR average through the 2015-16 report.
Under Jacobs' direction, UNI has finished with an above .500 record in MVC play in nine straight seasons. Prior to Jacobs taking over in 2008, UNI's last winning season in MVC play came in the 2000 season when Meredith Bakley led the Panthers to an 11-7 mark in league play.
His teams have set or tied 11 single-season school records while 40 players have received All-Missouri Valley Conference honors to go along with three MVC Newcomer of the Year honorees, two MVC Pitchers of the Year and an MVC Defensive Player of the Year.
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