Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco and Interim Director of Athletics Darlene Gordon have announced the hiring of Heather Jacobs as the 13th head women’s basketball coach at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
“I am excited to introduce Heather Jacobs to the UMass Boston community. Heather brings a wealth of experience, understands the importance of academics, and championship pedigree that will move our women’s basketball program in the right direction,” added Gordon.
Jacobs replaces former coach Kristina Baugh who left UMass Boston last June to take the head coaching position at Barry University.
“Thank you to Interim Ad Darlene Gordon and Senior Associate AD Stephanie Dollar and everyone at UMass Boston for providing me with this opportunity. I am grateful to come back home and continue to do what I love,” said Jacobs.
Regarded as a rising star in the coaching profession, Jacobs was instrumental in the development of NCAA Division I Wagner University, where she served as head coach for five seasons.
While on the bench at Wagner, Jacobs guided two student-athletes to earn major conference awards, while having at least one player being named to an All-NEC Team in each season.
No stranger to Division III women’s basketball, Jacobs started her coaching career as an assistant at Norwich University. In her one season with the Lady Cadets the team posted a record of 24-4, and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
She earned her first head coaching position in 2009 at Daniel Webster College, where she also served as an assistant athletic director and Senior Women Administrator. At Daniel Webster, Jacobs secured 47 wins, going 37-17 over her final two seasons. Being hired as the youngest head coach in the NCAA in 2007, she inherited a program that won just eight games the previous year and helped guide the Eagles to double-digit wins (10) in her first season.
Following her final season at Daniel Webster, Jacobs made the jump to Division II when she took the head coaching position at Adelphi University in Garden City, NY. During her six years at Adelphi, Jacobs guided the Panthers to four consecutive winning seasons, including a pair of 20-plus win campaigns, while amassing an overall record of 101-72 (.584).
A native of Stoughton, MA, Jacobs is a 2006 graduate of Franklin Pierce University, where she earned magna cum laude honors with a Sports and Recreation Management major, and a minor in Marketing. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, and is currently pursing her Ph.D. in Sports Leadership and Administration from Concordia University Chicago.
As a student-athlete, Jacobs was a two-time NE-10 Conference All-Academic selection while garnering Second Team accolades in her final season. A two-time team captain, Jacobs was a two-time team MVP and ranks among the top-20 on the Ravens’ all-time scoring list and rebounding list at the time of her graduation.
