RWU, after multiple years of success within the athletics department, will have to open their doors, beginning the search for a new athletic director for the coming summer.
After joining the department in 2017 and serving her nine years as athletic director at RWU, Jacobs is ready to call it a career. In Jacobs time leading the department; RWU has seen 24 conference titles as well as a national title according to the RWU athletics website.
“It’s time, I’m ready. I feel like I’ve done good things here and done good things wherever. It’s time for some new leadership and just for me to have a change of pace,” said Jacobs.
June 5th, 2026, will mark the official date as to when Jacobs will officially depart from the athletics office. The search for next in charge will begin later during the semester and finalists will likely be on campus in April according to Vice President of Student Life, John King.
“I know that it’s going to be a good applicant pool, just based on my connections in the NCAA and talking to people,” said Jacobs.
Though Jacobs stated she will not be heavily involved in the new search, she does have her wishes for whoever is next in office.
“I want someone that’s going to listen to the department, let them coach, and let them do their thing. Don’t micromanage because this is a great group of coaches and there’s not a lot of things that need to be fixed internally,” said Jacobs.
Prior to her stint at RWU she previously served as associates athletic director at Springfield College, and then at Oberlin College from 2006-10. In her earliest athletic role, Jacobs was an aquatics director and the head coach for the women’s swim team at Washington and Lee University. During her coaching career at the university, she had been selected 11 times as conference coach of the year.
She stated that making the jump from associate athletic director to athletic director was not easy but through the support system she had, it had helped make it achievable.
“I think that is what my legacy is for, at least in this department. To calm it down, bring it to a good place where everybody likes to see each other and comes into work because their friends are at work,” said Jacobs. “It’s got a lot of camaraderie in the department now. A lot of the coaches go to each other’s games. A lot of the coaches do things socially together outside the department.”
Jacobs stated she had help from the department early to guide her through the early stages of her time as athletic director. She noted that Women’s Basketball Head Coach, Kelly Thompson, had played a key role in helping her settle in.
“I have to say Kelly Thompson; she really helped me. She let me form my own opinions but also gave her honest feedback on things. It really has been a really big sounding board for me,” said Jacobs.
Jacobs stated she does not have any plans to continue her coaching career or any position within the RWU athletics department.
“I do want to keep my space from Roger Williams so the next athletic director can get themselves established; But I don’t want to lose touch with this place either,” said Jacobs.
Jacobs shared a final closing message for the next athletic director in office: “you’re inheriting a great department, just learn from them but also don’t be afraid to put your own little mark on things. But it’s not a department you have to fix.”
