June 21, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Isang Jacob, who served as an assistant at Penn State for the past two seasons, has been named the head men's soccer coach at IUPUI. Jacob returns to lead the program at which he began his collegiate coaching career and to his adopted hometown of Indianapolis.
Hired by former head coach Barry Gorman in 2009 and retained for one season on current head coach Bob Warming's staff, Jacob helped Penn State to a 26-16-3 overall record, two Big Ten Tournament title game appearances, and two NCAA Championship berths. He coached four First Team All-Big Ten selections, including Jason Yeisley, the 2009 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, Corey Hertzog, the 2010 NCAA leader in goals and points, and two-time honoree Matheus Braga, the nation's leader in assists in 2010.
Following the resignation of Gorman in April 2010, Jacob was appointed interim head coach and led Penn State to a three consecutive shutout victories, finishing off a highly successful spring season. In the fall, the Nittany Lions won 14 games in Warming's first year in Happy Valley, the program's most since 2002, and boasted one of the NCAA's most prolific offenses, totaling 144 points (45 goals, 54 assists) in 23 games.
Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, Jacob came to Penn State after 16 years of distinguished service at the state, regional, national, and international club levels. Serving as the head coach of the Indy Burn '90 Eagles (2002-09), he guided them to seven consecutive US Youth Soccer Indiana State Championships. In 2008, all 19 of his players earned athletic or academic scholarships to play collegiate soccer, 17 at the Division I level. In honor of his dedication to building solid citizens as well as standout soccer players, Jacob was recognized as 2008 Youth Soccer adidas Competitive Coach of the Year for Boys.
Active in all areas and at various levels of soccer, Jacob held numerous positions during his professional career, including head coach of the U-16 USSF Men's Academy, Carmel United Soccer Club (2008-09), director and owner of the Screaming Eagles Soccer Camp (1995-2009), NSCAA State Technical Coordinator (2005-2009), Coaching Education Staff Instructor for the IYSA, USSF, and NSCAA (1997-present), Region II Boys ODP Staff Coach (2001-2009), NSCAA Associate National Staff Instructor (2002-present), head coach of the Indiana Olympic Development Program (1998-2008), and Director of Coaching of the Indy Burn of the Pike Youth Soccer Club (2003-2007).
A tireless teacher of the game of soccer and highly sought after clinician, Jacob has coached at summer camps for some of the nation's most prestigious programs including Penn State, Indiana, Notre Dame, and West Virginia. Jacob first gained coaching experience at the collegiate level when he served as the head men's assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at IUPUI from 1995-2002. He also served as a high school head coach, guiding the Warren Central H.S. (Indianapolis) program from 2003-08.
As a player at Indiana Wesleyan University, Jacob was a three-time All-MCC selection (1989-1991) and a two-time NCCAA All-American (1989-1990). After graduation, he was invited to train with the Nigerian Senior National Team.
Jacob played at the professional level with the Houston Force of the APSL (1993-95) and with the Indiana Blast of the USL (1997-98).
Jacob is the second former Warming assistant to earn a head coaching position this offseason, after Jason Mims was tabbed to lead the Nebraska Omaha program in April.
IUPUI is coming off a 9-8-2 2010 season, placing second in the Summit League with a 4-2-0 record. The Jaguars return their top two scorers, NSCAA All-Midwest region selections Jeff Keyler and Perez Agaba, for the 2011 campaign.