Ben Jacobson = very underated

[Kurt Warner]

This guy would be winning national titles left and right if he coached an elite program. How does he get shooters like he does year after year. Amazing what he is and has accomplished at uni. Washpun is a fiery leader that has major hops, can get to the rim and is showing a very nice jumper to boot... was a major miss for the hawks.

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

Absolutely. I think he would look good in Iowa City one day. In fact, I've read he may be considered for the Wisconsin job at the end of the season.

 

[skydog0784]

Little doubt to me that Jacobson is the best coach in the state right now.

 

[Floyd7702]

So was Greg McDermott at UNI.

 

[EZ2BJZ]

I just hope he doesn't end up at Wisconsin. I wouldn't care if he went anywhere but there.

 

[skydog0784]

I just hope he doesn't end up at Wisconsin. I wouldn't care if he went anywhere but there.

That is my fear too. He'd be really good there.

 

[IamHawkeye]

This guy would be winning national titles left and right if he coached an elite program. How does he get shooters like he does year after year. Amazing what he is and has accomplished at uni. Washpun is a fiery leader that has major hops, can get to the rim and is showing a very nice jumper to boot... was a major miss for the hawks.

Who is doing the underrating, you before this game? I think he has been rated highly for some years now. He says he wants to stay at UNI, that doesn't mean he hasn't had offers elsewhere.

 

[EZ2BJZ]

Who is doing the underrating, you before this game? I think he has been rated highly for some years now. He says he wants to stay at UNI, that doesn't mean he hasn't had offers elsewhere.

I sure hope you're right. I enjoy having a good UNI basketball team to help represent the state.

 

[Row55]

He'll have some big money thrown at him at the end of the season I bet. At some point UNI won't be able to match it.

 

[Kurt Warner]

Who is doing the underrating, you before this game? I think he has been rated highly for some years now. He says he wants to stay at UNI, that doesn't mean he hasn't had offers elsewhere.[/QUOTE


Yeah just me, it's all about me. If you think he isn't underrated and passed over you're living under a rock. I bet he has been passed over for higher profile jobs than he has been offered would you like to bet on that? He's been passed over by iowa and isu just to name a couple. Are you saying he wouldn't have taken either one of these jobs if he was offered?

 

[Moose_31]

He'll have some big money thrown at him at the end of the season I bet. At some point UNI won't be able to match it.

He's been in that situation many times and turned it down

 

[Ihawkhoops]

Same can be said of Marshall at Wichita State. Some guys will take the money and bolt, but an increasing number realize they have unique situations, are paid well, and don't have the pressure / demands of higher profile jobs.

It is impressive and frustrating as an Iowa fan to see UNI reload year after with guys who steadily improve from role player to contributor. He has a system that is working very well and his teams always defend and play with a chip on their shoulders.

 

[Row55]

He's been in that situation many times and turned it down

I know, but at what point does he say "I just can't turn this down any longer"? What if someone throws $3 or $4M/yr at him?

 

[StormHawk42]

He'd be my choice if I were Barry Alvarez

 

[StormHawk42]

Also heard a stat that Jacobsen is 6-2 against ISU and the two losses were in OT. That's crazy for a matchup like that.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

He is a great X's and O's coach. He was behind the success of McDermott at UNI. Then when Greg left he took over. He has a knack of finding the in-state talent who ISU & Iowa over look. He is like Dantonio in football (plays the disrespect card) every time they play Iowa or ISU. He is good at getting the players up for a game and he finds the local players who Iowa & ISU pass on. He also has a good pipeline into the Minneapolis area. They are always in a good recruits out of that area.

He is also good w/the local media and the Cedar Valley. I realize that there are tons of jobs opening and will be more by seasons end. I think the guy is happy in the Cedar Valley. He gets paid very well for that area and the MVC is becoming a strong league and will battle for NCAA spots. I mean this year they could lose 4-6 games in conference and still be in the hunt for a NCAA At-large bid.

I hope he doesn't go to Wisky, I don't think he would be happy with the badgers.

 

[buttermypancakes]

He's only made the NCAA tournament one time in the last 5 years. I would say he's a little overrated.

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

I would agree that many "mid-major" coaches are realizing that, guess what, money isn't everything. Without all the pressure, they make a ton of money compared to the average working person, and so why leave? But the guy can recruit and coach. Other than maybe Uthoff and Baer for sure, I would take UNI's roster over Iowa's. No questions asked.

UNI has Iowa kids everywhere, and all they do is beat blue blood North Carolina and then knock the smirk off of Ames, both top five teams. Not bad for a bunch of rejects from little ole Iowa. I love the UNI program, and I hope the Panthers have another great season and take another NCAA bid.

 

[buttermypancakes]

I would agree that many "mid-major" coaches are realizing that, guess what, money isn't everything. Without all the pressure, they make a ton of money compared to the average working person, and so why leave? But the guy can recruit and coach. Other than maybe Uthoff and Baer for sure, I would take UNI's roster over Iowa's. No questions asked.

UNI has Iowa kids everywhere, and all they do is beat blue blood North Carolina and then knock the smirk off of Ames, both top five teams. Not bad for a bunch of rejects from little ole Iowa. I love the UNI program, and I hope the Panthers have another great season and take another NCAA bid.

He can recruit at the MVC level. Look what happened to Mcdermott when he stepped up. It's a different animal facing that competition night in and night out. As far as comparing rosters, obviously Iowa would take a player like Washpun in a second but you're stretching it beyond that. UNI has two really good wins (although I think the ISU win will look less and less impressive), but what happened against Richmond, Colorado St, and New Mexico? These guy aren't a lock for the tourney and for Iowa's sake I hope Witchita St wins the MVC and UNI doesn't take a bubble spot.

 

[Vbeachawk]

Ben would be a top flight coach at any college level, imo. He is not under rated.

 

[hooper56]

Jacobson is a good coach and he has done pretty well at UNI, although he does not get them into the ncaa tourney on a regular basis. He really can develop players. Washpun has improved by leaps and bounds since he came to UNI. But as has been pointed out before, Jake has turned down opportunities for the bigger stage before. You have to question his achievement drive a bit. Maybe he is afraid of the bright lights and the publicity a better program would bring.

 

[hawksense]

If Fran were not the Hawkeye Head Man, I would want Ben as his replacement.

 

[hooper56]

I bet you find oatmeal delicious and exciting

 

[hawksense]

When baked in cookies, yes.

 

[hooper56]

When baked in cookies, yes.

We can both agree on that!

 

[NevadaHawk]

We can both agree on that!

Ben reminds me of a younger Coach K at Duke during the 1990s.

 

[Chewback]

He's been in that situation many times and turned it down

Yup, if wanted to move for more money he'd have already done it. He likes where he is. Here's an article from last winter that pretty well lays it out.

http://www.foxsports.com/college-ba...bson-his-team-have-found-the-right-fit-011215

 

[yerpHAWK]

Should be at the top of Wisconsin's list, but Wisconsin thinks they are too good for him.

 

[LuteHawk]

The buzz on the street is that Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez
wants a basketball coach with Wisconsin roots. It remains
to be seen if that will happen. It did not work out with his
recent football hires after Bret Bielema went to Arkansas.

 

[MTHawkeyes43]

I believe Wiscy will target Tony Bennett from Virginia.

 

[ahawkfan91]

Pretty sure the previous UNI coach was supposed to be the greatest thing since sliced bread, too.

How'd that turn out?

 

[Ihawkhoops]

I think some guys are motivated by money and prestige and others are more invested in the community, program and their families. I suspect the grind during the season is similar, but have to believe the demands placed on Fran and other high-level D1 coaches offseason is much greater.

Does he want to spend more time away from his family? Can he get kids to buy in at larger programs like they do at UNI? Can he deal with fans who won't be satisfied with just making the NCAA tournament? Recruiting is about relationships and not many mid-major coaches have strong ties with AAU programs / coaches in metropolitan cities, which is critical to success at a higher level.

Successful mid-major coaches like Marshall and Jacobson make pretty good bank and have more free time and less bs to deal with, so there are benefits to staying in place.

 

[mtdew_fever]

Coach Jacobsen is making just over $500k this season. His salary is probably maxed out at UNI unless a big donor steps in and assumes the raise for the remainder of his contract, which I think is highly unlikely.

Also in his contract he is allowed to name two "Dream Job" schools that allow him to leave without a buyout. He apparently can change those schools every year prior to Jan 1 for the next year.

My guess is that he has Wisconsin as one of them. We'll see if he gets an interview after the season is over.

 

[mtdew_fever]

Comparing the MBB salaries between what Marshall makes at Wichita St and Jacobson at UNI isn't comparable.

Marshall signed a 7 yr contract averaging $3.3M per year last April. He can thank the Koch brothers for that.

Jacobson is in a 10 yr contract that pays him around $525k this season.

I think some guys are motivated by money and prestige and others are more invested in the community, program and their families. I suspect the grind during the season is similar, but have to believe the demands placed on Fran and other high-level D1 coaches offseason is much greater.

Does he want to spend more time away from his family? Can he get kids to buy in at larger programs like they do at UNI? Can he deal with fans who won't be satisfied with just making the NCAA tournament? Recruiting is about relationships and not many mid-major coaches have strong ties with AAU programs / coaches in metropolitan cities, which is critical to success at a higher level.

Successful mid-major coaches like Marshall and Jacobson make pretty good bank and have more free time and less bs to deal with, so there are benefits to staying in place.

 

[clickhere 01]

Comparing the MBB salaries between what Marshall makes at Wichita St and Jacobson at UNI isn't comparable.

Marshall signed a 7 yr contract averaging $3.3M per year last April. He can thank the Koch brothers for that.

Jacobson is in a 10 yr contract that pays him around $525k this season.

That must be Jacobsons old deal. He makes 900k a year.
http://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball...owa-coach-ben-jacobson-signs-10-year-contract

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

I believe Wiscy will target Tony Bennett from Virginia.

Wisconsin wont spend the $$$ necessary to get Tony Bennett. They wouldnt spend big time $$$ for a football coach either

 

[Ronman]

Don't know why Bennett would want to return to Wisconsin. He seems to have it going pretty well in Virginia and the winters are a heckuva lot nicer.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

Making $900K in Cedar Falls, Iowa and being able to have a life outside of coaching is a pretty good deal. So you can make more money, but work 25% more and have less time with your family and we will throw in a side of high expectations from the fans to go along with it.

We had our own experiment with Mid Major Coach Gone Wild and there are no guarantees success at one level transfers to another. Lickliter was National Coach of the Year at Butler, but couldn't recruit his way out of a wet paper bag and wasn't smart enough to hire somebody who could.

If you take the leap, you have to be able to recruit out of the gate or you will not meet fans' expectations. 3 years is about the maximum coaches get these days. Yes, he will get paid out even if he fails, but why take on the extra headaches associated with a rebuild or replacing a legend like Ryan?

 

[mtdew_fever]

What makes you think being in a smaller maker allows you work less?

If he's making $900k, that is a lot of money. Doesn't Wisconsin pay their coach just under $3M per year? Living in Madison WI doesn't cost that much more than living in Cedar Falls.

As for Lickliter, he made a ton of money at Iowa, so failing there has now allowed him to coach at a lesser school while sitting on a pile of cash from his time in Iowa City.

Making $900K in Cedar Falls, Iowa and being able to have a life outside of coaching is a pretty good deal. So you can make more money, but work 25% more and have less time with your family and we will throw in a side of high expectations from the fans to go along with it.

We had our own experiment with Mid Major Coach Gone Wild and there are no guarantees success at one level transfers to another. Lickliter was National Coach of the Year at Butler, but couldn't recruit his way out of a wet paper bag and wasn't smart enough to hire somebody who could.

If you take the leap, you have to be able to recruit out of the gate or you will not meet fans' expectations. 3 years is about the maximum coaches get these days. Yes, he will get paid out even if he fails, but why take on the extra headaches associated with a rebuild or replacing a legend like Ryan?

 

[ahawkfan91]

We had our own experiment with Mid Major Coach Gone Wild and there are no guarantees success at one level transfers to another. Lickliter was National Coach of the Year at Butler, but couldn't recruit his way out of a wet paper bag and wasn't smart enough to hire somebody who could.

Let's be completely honest here. Wasn't his final class, right before he got fired, shaping up to be quite excellent?