Jay Jacobs

As Athletics Director and Department Advisor, Jay works collaboratively with coaches, athletes, and faculty members to enhance the overall athletic and academic experience for students and sports administrators. Jay plays a pivotal role in helping cultivate strong relationships within the athletic community to garner support for the athletics department's initiatives and enrich the overall educational experience for students.

 

After he finished playing college football as a walk-on at Auburn University, Jay became an assistant football coach at Lee-Scott Academy in Auburn in 1984. In 1985, he was brought back to Auburn Athletics as the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for the football team. From 1986 to 1988, he was a graduate assistant football coach. He was named Conditioning Coach in 1988.

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Jay moved into the athletics administration in 1991 when he became Assistant Athletics Director. In 1994, he was promoted to Associate Athletics Director for Operations. In 2001, he was named Senior Associate Athletics Director where he was in charge of Tigers Unlimited. From 2005 to 2018, Jay served as Auburn University’s Athletics Director. Auburn claimed 12 national championships across five sports during his watch, including the 2010 BCS Football National Championship. Notable hires include Auburn Men's Basketball coach Bruce Pearl, 2010 BCS Football National Championship and Head Football Coach, Gene Chizik, and 2013 BCS Football National Championship runner up Head Football Coach, Gus Malzahn.

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Jacobs, the 2017 NACDA / Under Armour Athletics Director of the Year and one of five finalists for the 2017 Sports Business Journal Athletics Director of the Year, played a key role in Auburn's reputation for creating one of the best game-day environments in all of college football after launching a commitment to customers earlier this decade. He presided over $220 million in facility improvements, with an additional $96 million in stages of planning and execution on the table at the time of his retirement. He also oversaw the hiring of nutritionists, mental-health professionals and the construction of the South Donahue Residence Hall and Wellness Kitchen created to benefit the student-athlete experience.

 

In July of 2018, he was hired by the University of Florida Athletics Association as the Executive Associate Director of External Affairs. According to UF's staff directory, Jacobs oversaw all of Florida’s external units, including communications, marketing, ticketing, licensing and Gator Boosters during his time with the program. He also served as the sport administrator for the football program, women's basketball, and men's tennis.