Mike Jacobs, who led Lenoir-Rhyne to a 32-9 record over the past four years — including a 13-2 mark this past fall en route to a Division II semifinals appearance — has accepted the head coaching job at Mercer.
Lenoir-Rhyne announced Jacobs’ resignation from the program Thursday morning. The Bears opening becomes the sixth in the state of North Carolina during this coaching carousel cycle. Jacobs is the second coach from the Old North State to take a job in the FCS Southern Conference. Tre Lamb moved from Gardner-Webb to East Tennessee State at the conclusion of the ’23 campaign in late November.
“On behalf of my wife Lacey and my boys Luke and Knox, we would like to send our sincere appreciation to the players who have given everything on the field for us,” Jacobs said in a release. “To the LR community and city of Hickory, we will be forever grateful for the way our family was taken in and cared for in our time here. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you and Go Bears.”
Lenoir-Rhyne won the South Atlantic Conference title this past season under Jacobs’ leadership, then went on to capture three D2 playoff victories in convincing fashion. The Bears, who won a road playoff contest for the first time, fell to eventual national champion Harding in the semis and ended up fourth one of the major D2 national rankings.
The team’s 13 wins tied the Lenoir-Rhyne single-season record. The Bears were our NC Football News Fabulous 14 champion, designating them as the top team from the state across all divisions.
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Jacobs’ .780 win percentage is the third-highest by a Lenoir-Rhyne coach, the school reported. He has a career record of 74-17, counting his time at Notre Dame College.
“I would like to thank Coach Jacobs for his leadership and the positive impact he’s had on our program, our players, and the broader LR Community,” said Vice President for Athletics Kim Pate. “He has done an outstanding job leading our football program over his four seasons and developing our student-athletes on and off the field. He had one of the most successful seasons in program history this past fall and has a bright future. We wish him, his wife Lacey and his children Knox and Luke the best in the future.”
Lenoir-Rhyne announced that it will begin a national search immediately for Jacobs’ replacement.
Like Lenoir-Rhyne, Mercer – located in Macon, Ga. – is also nicknamed Bears. Mercer finished 9-4 this past season, beating Gardner-Webb in the playoffs, before falling to eventual FCS champion South Dakota State. Jacobs replaces Drew Cronic, who left Mercer earlier this month to become offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Navy. Cronic also coached at Lenoir-Rhyne (2018-19).
“Our goal throughout this process was to find not only a leader with a track record of success, but also one who will continue to build on the success that our program has already experienced,” Mercer athletics director Jim Cole said in a release. Mike Jacobs shares our values and our vision for Mercer Football, but also think that he is a leader that young men will want to play for.”
Jacobs’ new team will open the season Aug. 29 against Presbyterian. The Mercer Bears host Western Carolina and will play at Alabama in November.
“My family and I are humbled to be joining the Mercer University Football family,” Jacobs said. “Mercer is an elite institution that has competed at the highest level both on the field and in the classroom. We look forward to immersing ourselves in both the campus community and the city of Macon. Go Bears!”
NC Coaching Carousel Tracker
| SCHOOL | 2023 COACH | REASON VACANT | DATE VACANT | 2024 COACH | HIRED |
| St. Augustine’s (D2) | Howard Feggins | mid-season firing | 10/13/23 | Interim: Jody Owens | |
| Wingate (D2) | Joe Reich | moved to AD post at Wingate | 11/14/23 | Rashaan Jordan | 11/14/23 |
| Duke (FBS) | Mike Elko | hired at Texas A&M | 11/27/23 | Manny Diaz | 12/8/23 |
| Gardner-Webb (FCS) | Tre Lamb | hired at East Tennessee State | 11/27/23 | Cris Reisert | 12/11/23 |
| Campbell (FCS) | Mike Minter | resigned | 12/18/23 | Braxton Harris | |
| Lenoir-Rhyne | Mike Jacobs | hired at Mercer | 01/18/23 |
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Mike Jacobs at Lenoir-Rhyne
| Mike Jacobs W-L | Overall | Conference |
| 2023 Season | 13-2 | 8-1 |
| 2022 Season | 8-3 | 7-2 |
| 2021 Season | 8-3 | 6-2 |
| 2020-21 Season | 3-1 | 3-0 |
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More Lenoir-Rhyne Content from NC Football News
- Wingate’s Marquise Fleming voted region’s top defensive player
Eleven D2 football players from North Carolina earn All-Super Region recognition - Lenoir-Rhyne QB Jalen Ferguson joins D2 transfer portal exodus
Record-setting quarterback headlines growing list of D2 stars from NC entering portal - Virginia Union rushes past Lenoir-Rhyne, ends D2 season in our state
Bears finish 10-3, last team standing in Division II playoffs - D2 Football Playoffs: Lenoir-Rhyne vs. Virginia Union Set for Epic Second-Round Clash
10-2 Bears host high-scoring CIAA rival Panthers in NCAA playoff showdown - Week 13 Headlines: Lenoir-Rhyne still dancing, App State snows JMU, FCS season complete
Recapping the highs and lows of another college football weekend in the Old North State
