Jake Jacoby enters his second season as an assistant coach for Illinois State’s track & field program. Jacoby leads the Redbirds’ multis and jumps groups and has served in the role since September 2023.

Jacoby returned to coaching track & field when he joined Jeff Bovee’s staff in September 2023. Jacoby previously spent over a decade serving as a strength and conditioning coach in both Germany and Spain.

Jacoby made a mark in his first season leading the multis and jumps groups. Under the direction of Jacoby, Madison Saunders claimed two individual Missouri Valley Conference titles and Ariel Atias claimed a title in the Heptathlon with a school record 5,414 points, as 14 student-athletes earned All-Valley honors as well.

Prior to his time in Europe, Jacoby served as an assistant coach at the University of Louisville, where he guided many student-athletes to success. Under his guidance, Tone Belt and Andre Black claimed National Championships in the triple jump and long jump in 2007. 

During his tenure with Louisville, Jacoby helped the Cardinals claim seven Big East team titles and 34 Big East individual championships.

Before his time in Louisville, he spent four years serving as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Boise State. Throughout his time with the Broncos, he coached 12 Western Athletic Conference individual champions, three NCAA All-Americans, and four school record holders. Jacoby was also a member of the Western Athletic Conference winning staff.

In his coaching career, Jacoby has won an NCAA National Jumps Coach of the Year and an NCAA Regional Coach of the Year award.

Jacoby was inducted into Boise State’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984 after a historic athletic career with the Broncos. Jacoby was a three-time NCAA All-American in the high jump. He also claimed the 1984 NCAA outdoor championship in the high jump. Additionally, Jacoby also won seven individual Big Sky high jump championships.

Jacoby is the son of legendary coach Ed Jacoby who was inducted into Boise State’s Hall of Fame in 1996. Jacoby is recognized as one of the best coaches in the world. At Boise State, Ed coached for 23 years where the Broncos won nine Big Sky Championships and two individual national championships. Ed was also awarded the Big Sky Coach of the Year award 10 times. Ed also served as an assistant coach for the United States men’s team at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.