INDIANAPOLIS – IUPUI Director of Athletics Mike Moore has announced the hiring of Isang Jacob as the next Head Men’s Soccer Coach. Jacob comes to IUPUI after a two-year stint at Penn State as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator. Jacob helped Penn State to back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths and 26 wins during his two seasons. He also was the Interim Head Coach of the Nittany Lions during the spring of 2010, leading PSU to an undefeated mark with wins over Pittsburgh, Bucknell and West Virginia.
He began his collegiate coaching career in 1995 at IUPUI, including serving as top assistant when the Jaguars made the NCAA Tournament in 2000.
Jacob becomes the fifth head coach in the 25-year history of the program.
“I am pumped for the opportunity to come home,” Jacob said. “I have a lot of catching up to do and big shoes to fill. Penn State gave me a wonderful opportunity at one of the finest institutions and athletic departments in the country, but now I’m coming home to take IUPUI to new heights. That’s my job.
“I wanted this job. We’re going to have fun and we’re going to do things the right way. And, we’re going to win.”
“I think Jacob is undoubtedly the man to get the soccer program going the right direction,” Moore said. “He’s going to have at the top of The Summit League, both academically and competitively. He’s focused on graduating student-athletes and having IUPUI represent The Summit League in the NCAA Tournament for many years to come.”
At Penn State in 2011, Jacob coached the nation’s top goal scorer in Corey Hertzog and top assist man in Matheus Braga. Overall, the Nittany Lions went 14-8-1 and reached the Big Ten Championship match, before heading into NCAA Tourney play. PSU beat Old Dominion in the opener before its season ended to No. 2 Maryland.
Jacob spent 16 years making a name for himself at the state, regional, national and international club levels before heading to Happy Valley in 2009. He led the Indy Burn ’90 Eagles to seven straight U.S. Youth Soccer Indiana State Championships from 2002-09. In 2008, all 19 of his players earned athletic or academic scholarships to play collegiate soccer, 17 at the Division I level. He was later tabbed the 2008 Youth Soccer adidas Competitive Coach of the Year.
He previously was head coach of the U-16 USSF Men’s Academy, director and owner of the Screaming Eagles Soccer Camp from 1995-2009 and an NSCAA State Technical Coordinator from 2005-09.
His passion for teaching the game is clearly evidenced as he’s been a Coaching Education Staff Instructor for the IYSA, USSF and NSCAA since 1997 and an NSCAA Associate National Staff Instructor since 2002. His ODP involvement included serving as the Region II Boys ODP Staff Coach from 2001-09 and head coach of the Indiana ODP from 1998-08. He’s also served as a clinician at summer camps at Penn State, Indiana, Notre Dame and West Virginia.
On the college level, IUPUI averaged better than nine wins per season with Jacob on staff from 1995-02, including the program’s only-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2000.
Many notables from the area endorsed the hire, including legendary former Indiana Head Coach Jerry Yeagley, who's known Jacob dating back to his days at IUPUI. Moore spoke with Yeagley during the hiring process.
“I’ve known Jacob a number of years and he’s been an outstanding staff member at our camps here at IU,” the Hall of Famer said. “I think IUPUI is very lucky to have secured his services. He’s one of the young, bright stars in our profession.
“He has a keen eye for talent in recruiting. In addition, he has a feel – an instinct – on how to blend talent and make it work as a unit. He knows how to find that mix and make it work as a team. And he has very good principles of the game. His teams will be very well disciplined, which has helped lead his teams to success.”
Floyd Keith, Executive Director of the BCA echoed the same senitiments.
"He's an outstanding hire for IUPUI. He'll do a great job with the passion he'll bring to the position and he's not unfamiliar to the needs at IUPUI, having coached there before," Keith said. "His personality is positive and he's a worker. That's going to really help him when it comes to recruiting.
"In my mind, he's one of those guys who just needed an opportunity to be a head coach."
Jacob was a three-time All-MCC and two-time NCCAA All-American during his playing days at Indiana Wesleyan, where he graduated in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He was invited to train with the Nigerian Senior National Team while embarking on a professional career. He played with the Houston Force of the APSL from 1993-95 before coming to Indianapolis to play with the Indiana Blast of the USL from 1997-98. He also completed his Master’s Degree in social work at IUPUI in 1997.
Most recently, he was appointed North America Football Scout for Nigerian Senior National Team under Chief Coach Samson Siasia.
Jacob holds an NSCAA Premier Coaching Diploma, the highest offered by the association. In addition, he has his USSF ‘A’ and National Youth License, NSCAA Goalkeeper 1 and 2 accreditation and a Royal Netherlands Football Association Dutch International Youth Coaching License, which he completed in 2002.
Jacob will begin his duties immediately. With the season less than two months away, Jacob knows the beginning will be busy.
“I’ve got to get to know the present players and build a trust with the players,” Jacob said. “Then I have to hit the road recruiting. I’m ready to go.”
