Michael V. Jacobsen Position: Director of Athletics/Associate VP

Mike Jacobsen is entering his 29th year as the Director of Athletics at Utah Valley University. Under Jacobsen's direction, the UVU athletic program has flourished. The Wolverines have claimed a host of conference and region championships and have nailed down top-ten national finishes in volleyball, basketball, softball, track, golf and cross country, along with a national championship in softball and a provisional men's basketball title in 2004.

Utah Valley University has been a member of the Great West Conference since the beginning of the conference's three-year existence, winning the inaugural Commissioner's Cup in 2010 and repeating again in both 2011 abd 2012.

In 2003, Jacobsen added wrestling, becoming the first NCAA Division I school to add a wrestling program in 33 years. Jacobsen was named the NACDA Athletic Director of the Year for the Junior/Community College West Region in 2000 and was the recipient of the William L. Miller Award in 2001, which is the administrator of the year award for the National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA).

Jacobsen with former Wolverine and current Portland Trail Blazers guard Ronnie Price.

Jacobsen has been active in the athletic community, serving on a number of local, regional and national positions. He was the Director of Region 18 of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). He has served on the NJCAA committees for Division 1 basketball and football. He is a past President of the National Alliance of Two Year College Athletic Administrators, and was on the Executive Committee for the NJCAA.

He has served on the Executive Committee of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, and is Past President of the Utah Chapter of the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame. He has also been the President of the Utah Football Coaches Association and President of the Professional Association of College Employees at UVU. He has served on the Utah County Cancer Board and is a past President of the Provo Rotary Club.

In 2001 Jacobsen applied with the NCAA to explore moving their school and athletics program to NCAA Division I. In July of 2008, Utah Valley completed a seven year provisional period, being the first community college in modern day history of the NCAA to move directly from a two year school to DIV I. During this period of time, Jacobsen has increased his budget from $1,200,000 to $9,500,000.

Under Jacobsen's direction, Utah Valley University has gone from playing their games at local high schools, to having outstanding on campus facilities. Home for basketball is the 8,500 seat UCCU Center, while volleyball and wrestling use the 2,000 seat Activity Center. The 5,000-capacity Brent Brown Ballpark is the home to UVU baseball, one of the premeire baseball stadiums in the West. Most recently, Utah Valley completed the new Hal Wing Track & Field, host to the 2011 Great West Conference Track & Field Championships.

Major renovations have taken place to the softball field as well as a major upgrade to Clyde soccer field. The 24,000 square foot Wolverine Service Center accomodates wrestling, soccer and track & field as well as academics, financial aid, compliance services and marketing and promotions. The state-of-the-art Vucci, 30-station computer lab and student lounge is also housed in the WSC.

Jacobsen is originally from San Diego, California. He has a bachelor's and master's degree from Brigham Young University. Before coming to UVU he was at Springville High School in Springville, Utah for 19 years. He and his wife Alice reside in Springville, up Hobble Creek Canyon. They have four children and 14 grandchildren.

In his spare time, which is seldom, Mike loves to play golf, fly fish, go on a good horse ride and spend time with his grand children. He loves the serenity of Hobble Creek Canyon and enjoys every season there.