Mickey Jacobs

Biography

Mickey Jacobs joins Coach Candle's coaching staff in 2026 as team's linebackers coach. Jacobs joins the Huskies after five seasons at Duquesne, serving as the defensive coordinator for the last two. Jacobs was promoted to defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach in 2024 after the Dukes won the Northeast Conference championship and NCAA FCS playoff appearance as safeties coach and special teams coordinator. Under Jacobs' direction, the Dukes have produced 14 all-conference defensive selections over the past two seasons — the most in any two-year span since Duquesne joined the NEC in 2008. Jacobs was selected to the 2026 AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute in December 2025. In Jacobs’ first season leading the defense, the Dukes produced seven All-NEC selections, including four first-team honorees, and tied for the regular season conference title. Duquesne allowed a league-low 18.3 points per game in conference play and held three opponents to single digits during an eight-game win streak, the program’s longest since 2002. The stretch included a Week 3 victory over No. 21/20 Youngstown State, marking just the second win over a ranked opponent in program history. Jacobs’ unit tallied nine interceptions, 27 sacks, and forced nine fumbles, recovering four, for 13 total takeaways, and scored two defensive touchdowns. The Dukes ranked second in the NEC in both red-zone defense, forcing five turnovers inside the 20 (three interceptions and two on downs), and opponent