AP FILE PHOTO - Northern Iowa head coach Ben Jacobson questions a call during the first half of a college basketball game against Grand Canyon in the Hall of Fame Classic on Nov. 22, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo.

LOGAN, Utah — Ben Jacobson is leaving the Northern Iowa men’s basketball program after two decades to become the head coach at Utah State, the school announced Monday.

Jacobson was introduced as the 23rd head coach in Utah State program history by athletic director Cameron Walker, ending a 20-year run leading the Panthers in Cedar Falls.

“Utah State is one of the country’s premier men’s basketball programs, and we needed a leader who embodies that tradition,” Walker said in a statement. “Ben is not only an exceptional person, but across the industry is regarded as one of the best coaches in the country.”

Jacobson replaces Jerrod Calhoun, who left Utah State to take the head coaching position at Cincinnati.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to join Utah State as it enters its next chapter,” Jacobson said. “I’m grateful to Cameron Walker for trusting me to lead such a historic program.”

Jacobson arrives in Logan with one of the most accomplished resumes in mid-major college basketball. The 55-year-old compiled a 397-259 record during his tenure at Northern Iowa and led the Panthers to five NCAA Tournament appearances.

He became the 21st head coach in Northern Iowa history in 2006 after previously serving as an assistant with the program beginning in 2001.

Jacobson’s teams were known for disciplined play and consistency, averaging nearly 20 wins per season during his tenure.

His most notable postseason run came during the 2009-10 season, when Northern Iowa advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers, seeded ninth, upset top-seeded Kansas in the second round before falling to Michigan State in the regional semifinals.

Northern Iowa also reached the NCAA Tournament again this winter, continuing Jacobson’s tradition of postseason appearances and Missouri Valley Conference contention.

Utah State officials cited Jacobson’s track record of program building and player development as key factors in the hire as the Aggies prepare for their upcoming move to the Pac-12 Conference.

Jacobson said he is eager to begin building relationships in Logan and connect with the program’s supporters.

“I look forward to getting to know Aggie Nation and the HURD, and for my family to become part of the Cache Valley and Logan community,” he said.

The move closes one of the longest tenures in the MVC. Jacobson leaves Northern Iowa as the program’s winningest coach and one of the league’s most successful leaders of the past two decades, having guided the Panthers through sustained national relevance and multiple NCAA Tournament runs.

Utah State now turns to the veteran coach to continue its recent stretch of success and guide the Aggies into a new era of competition.