Notre Dame College Athletics

Mike Jacobs was named the third head coach in the history of the Notre Dame College football program on May 16, 2016, after serving the previous two seasons as the Defensive Line Coach and the Defensive Coordinator. He will enter his fourth year as the leader of the Falcons in the 2019 season.

Jacobs led Notre Dame to its most successful season in 2018 as the Falcons made a run to the NCAA Division II Semifinals. During the regular season, NDC was undefeated. The team finished 2018 with a 13-1 (10-0 MEC) record. Jacobs was named MEC Coach of the Year after the Falcons were picked to finish third in the conference prior to the season starting. He was also named Regional and National Coach of the Year by the Don Hansen Football Gazette.

Offense, defense and special teams were all keys to Jacobs's success in 2018 as the team ranked highly in the NCAA DII in all three facets. On offense, the Falcons ranked seventh in total yards (6,359) and sixth in rushing yards (3,704); Notre Dame also ranked eighth in first downs offense with 304 first downs. Defensively, NDC only allowed an average of 18.1 points per game, which ranked 17th in the country. The Falcons' signature on defense was their bend-don't-break play that resulted in Division II's best red-zone defense (.513). Notre Dame also ranked first in fumbles recovered (20). The defensive unit ranked third in turnovers gained (34) and third in sacks (50). On special teams, NDC ranked second in punt return touchdowns (4) and fifth in blocked punts (4).

Not only was their success team-wide in 2018, but individual performances highlighted the year. Jaleel McLaughlin led the country in both rushing yards (2,421) and all-purpose yards (2,699). Marvelle Ross tied for the most punt return touchdowns with three. Sha'haun Williams ranked first in sacks (20.0) and second in tackles for a loss (24.5). Jeffrey Thomas led the way in passes broken up (27). 

That individual success led to many honors as McLaughlin was named a finalist for the Harlon Hill Award, which is given to the best player in Division II, while offensive lineman Austin Treneff was named a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award, which is given to the best lineman. Both players finished in the top four in the final voting. McLaughlin was named both the Mountain East Conference and the Super Region 1 Offensive Player of the Year while defensive lineman Jack Kosko was named MEC Defensive Freshman of the Year. 

In his first year at the helm, Jacobs led NDC to a 9-2 (8-2 MEC) record. During this run, the Falcons earned a spot in the top 25 rankings for the first time. Jacobs used every facet of the game with top 5 conference team rankings in nearly every statistical category including scoring offense (1st), scoring defense (3rd), rushing offense (1st), passing offense (5th), total defense (3rd), kick returns (1st), net punting yards (1st), fewest penalties against (1st).

During his second season, Notre Dame finished second in the Mountain East with an 8-2 conference record. It is the highest the Falcons have finished in the MEC since the conference formed in 2013. Overall, the team had an 8-3 record as they rushed for an MEC-high 2,558 yards. Jacobs once again led his team to be one of the best teams in the conference as the Falcons ranked high in total offense (3rd), scoring offense (3rd), scoring defense (3rd), turnover margin (3rd) and penalties (2nd). 

The Falcons also have seen a lot of individual success under Jacobs. In 2016, Malik Grove ranked first in the MEC with 299.3 yards of total offense per game. Grove also hit an outstanding mark of 32 touchdowns and three interceptions as a passer. D.J. Greene joined Grove in 2016 as the second most successful rusher in the conference with 91.2 yards per game.

Overall, Jacobs has coached 43 All-Mountain East Conference members, 14 All-Super Region One Team honorees, and six All-Americans. His players have also had success in the classroom as his players have earned Academic All-Region honors four times and Academic All-American honors three times. 

Prior to joining the Falcons, Jacobs spent over six years with the Vulcans of Cal Pa., as their defensive line coach, and director of football operations. While with the Vulcans, their defensive unit produced 16 All-PSAC performers, three NCAA-II All-Americans, a PSAC Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year and two Gene Upshaw Award finalists. In 2010, Cal Pa. finished second in D-II in total defense. During his six seasons there he helped the team win the PSAC four times, appeared in the NCAA-II playoffs four times and made two final four appearances. 

Jacobs also spent three years on the Purdue coaching staff as an assistant offensive coach. He was the offensive line coach at Wilmington College in 2004, and spent the two years before that as the assistant offensive line coach at Eastern Michigan. 

As a player, Jacobs was a five-year member and two time letter-winner at the Ohio State University from 1997-2001. He was an offensive lineman and a long snapper for both John Cooper and Jim Tressell. During his career, he played in over 30 games, including two Sugar Bowls. 

The Maumee, Ohio, native, resides in Lyndhurst, Ohio, with his wife Lacey, and his sons Luke and Knox. 

 

	Overall			MEC
Season	W	L	%	W	L	%
2016	9	2	.818	8	2	.800
2017	8	3	.727	8	2	.800
2018^*	13	1	.929	10	0	1.000
Totals	30	6	.833	26	4	.867

^Mountain East Conference Championship Season
*NCAA Playoff Appearance