Mercer University football coach Mike Jacobs stepped down to become the head coach at the University of Toledo, athletics officials announced Wednesday.
Jacobs, who guided the Bears to historic heights with back-to-back Southern Conference championships, will replace Jason Candle, who recently left Toledo for the University of Connecticut after coaching the Rockets for eight years.
“Coach Jacobs has led the Mercer football program to unprecedented success," Athletic Director Jim Cole said in a press release. "We are incredibly grateful for his leadership.”
In his two seasons in Macon, Jacobs compiled a 20-6 record, and won the Bears football program their first two Southern Conference championships in its history. He led the team to the FCS quarterfinals in 2024 and a second-round FCS Playoff appearance in 2025. His tenure concluded following Mercer's loss to the University of South Dakota in the second round of the playoffs on Saturday.
“We want to thank him for the impact that he has had on Mercer, and we wish him and his family the very best. BearNation cannot thank him enough,” Cole said.
The move marks a return to Ohio for Jacobs, who hails from Maumee, Ohio and is a former offensive lineman at Ohio State University. Toledo, which competes at the FBS level and is just three years removed from a Mid-American Conference title.
“My family and I are humbled and honored to lead the University of Toledo’s storied football program,” Jacobs said. “We are looking forward to being a part of Team Toledo and helping this program achieve new heights.”
Griffin Xu '28 is a biology and journalism double major and first-year staff writer for The Cluster. In his free time he enjoys reading and spending time with his friends.
