Marshall University Athletics
Marshall’s Jacobs Set to Retire from Division I Coaching
11/15/2018 10:58:00 AM | Volleyball
Thundering Herd in search of new leadership
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall's Mitch Jacobs has announced that he will retire from Division I coaching after 26 years as a collegiate head volleyball coach, the Thundering Herd announced Thursday.
"The first person that I have to thank for enjoying a 26-year career is my wife Laura," said Jacobs. "We have two amazing kids that she has raised, practically, on her own. I want to thank (Director of Athletics) Mike Hamrick. He has shown confidence in me and, to be honest over the last 10 years, I haven't performed to the level that I had achieved in earlier years. This is solely on myself and his support for me has just meant the world. I've only worked for one Senior Woman Administrator at this university and I can say that I absolutely love my boss, Beatrice Crane Banford. Beatrice has been more than my supervisor, she's been everything to me throughout my career at Marshall. I can't thank her enough for that."
"Bob Marcum is truly one of the greatest people in my life. He showed me that there is no limitation and has stayed in my corner throughout my entire time at Marshall. Jeff O'Malley and David Steele are two of the finest individuals and friends and that's what Marshall has always been … people. I've gotten to work with the greatest, including someone I truly miss, Dr. Stephen Kopp. That was just a blessing."
The Morton Grove, Ill. native finished with a career record of 480-347 over the course of his career, which included three seasons as the head coach of Fairfield University and six more at Division II Florida Tech. He led the Stags to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and finished his career with the Panthers as the school's all-time leader in coaching victories.
"I want to thank Mitch Jacobs for his 17 years of service to this program," Hamrick said. "He has had an outstanding career here and I have to respect the very challenging decision that he has made to step down from leading our volleyball program."
A two-time Conference USA Coach of the Year and the school's all-time leader in coaching victories, Jacobs led the Thundering Herd to the Conference USA title in 2005 (and NCAA Tournament appearance) and a regular season crown in 2007. In his 17 seasons leading Marshall, he compiled a mark of 298-236.
"I feel blessed that I was able to make a career out of a sport for which I have so much passion," Jacobs said. "In 26 years as a college coach, I have met and been a part of so many outstanding young women's lives. I want to thank all of them for making this unbelievably stressful job worth waking up for every morning. It's not just time for me to step down from being Marshall's head coach. It's time for me to retire from Division I volleyball and find a new path. I could never be grateful enough to this community of Huntington, W.Va. for just allowing myself and my family to feel so welcome. It's meant everything in the world for a coach to be able to call a place home for 17 years when I've been in a profession where coaches don't stay in one place for very long."
"The stability that my wife Laura and I have had raising our family in Huntington, W.Va. has been immeasurable. The community of volleyball in this area is just thriving at the younger ages. As long as I live here, I'll always be committed to the River Cities Thunder and, always, a fan of Marshall. Go Herd!"
During his Marshall tenure, he coached five conference players of the year and four All-Americans.
"The first person that I have to thank for enjoying a 26-year career is my wife Laura," said Jacobs. "We have two amazing kids that she has raised, practically, on her own. I want to thank (Director of Athletics) Mike Hamrick. He has shown confidence in me and, to be honest over the last 10 years, I haven't performed to the level that I had achieved in earlier years. This is solely on myself and his support for me has just meant the world. I've only worked for one Senior Woman Administrator at this university and I can say that I absolutely love my boss, Beatrice Crane Banford. Beatrice has been more than my supervisor, she's been everything to me throughout my career at Marshall. I can't thank her enough for that."
"Bob Marcum is truly one of the greatest people in my life. He showed me that there is no limitation and has stayed in my corner throughout my entire time at Marshall. Jeff O'Malley and David Steele are two of the finest individuals and friends and that's what Marshall has always been … people. I've gotten to work with the greatest, including someone I truly miss, Dr. Stephen Kopp. That was just a blessing."
The Morton Grove, Ill. native finished with a career record of 480-347 over the course of his career, which included three seasons as the head coach of Fairfield University and six more at Division II Florida Tech. He led the Stags to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and finished his career with the Panthers as the school's all-time leader in coaching victories.
"I want to thank Mitch Jacobs for his 17 years of service to this program," Hamrick said. "He has had an outstanding career here and I have to respect the very challenging decision that he has made to step down from leading our volleyball program."
A two-time Conference USA Coach of the Year and the school's all-time leader in coaching victories, Jacobs led the Thundering Herd to the Conference USA title in 2005 (and NCAA Tournament appearance) and a regular season crown in 2007. In his 17 seasons leading Marshall, he compiled a mark of 298-236.
"I feel blessed that I was able to make a career out of a sport for which I have so much passion," Jacobs said. "In 26 years as a college coach, I have met and been a part of so many outstanding young women's lives. I want to thank all of them for making this unbelievably stressful job worth waking up for every morning. It's not just time for me to step down from being Marshall's head coach. It's time for me to retire from Division I volleyball and find a new path. I could never be grateful enough to this community of Huntington, W.Va. for just allowing myself and my family to feel so welcome. It's meant everything in the world for a coach to be able to call a place home for 17 years when I've been in a profession where coaches don't stay in one place for very long."
"The stability that my wife Laura and I have had raising our family in Huntington, W.Va. has been immeasurable. The community of volleyball in this area is just thriving at the younger ages. As long as I live here, I'll always be committed to the River Cities Thunder and, always, a fan of Marshall. Go Herd!"
During his Marshall tenure, he coached five conference players of the year and four All-Americans.
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