Fred Jacoby, MAC (Administration)
Fred Jacoby served as commissioner of the Mid-American Conference from 1971 to 1982. Expansion of membership was a top priority during his 12 years of service. He was able to grant admission to four athletic programs, growing MAC membership to 10 athletic programs.
His most notable achievement was the incorporation of women’s athletics into the Mid-American Conference structure. Jacoby helped the transition of women’s sports including field hockey (1981), gymnastics (1981), volleyball (1980), women’s basketball (1981), women’s cross country (1980), women’s tennis (1981), women’s swimming & diving (1981) and softball (1982).
In his honor, the MAC ‘s annual top women’s athletic program is honored with the Jacoby Trophy at the end of each academic year.
A native of Logan, Ohio, Jacoby received his bachelor’s degree from Ohio State in 1948. The same year, he began his coaching career at Bremen High School serving as head coach of football, basketball, and baseball, while also serving as Director of Athletics.
Jacoby served as a high school football coach for nine seasons, producing a 63-13 record. He became an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin in 1958, where he earned a master’s degree in physical education a few years prior. During his eight seasons with the Badgers, Jacoby helped them earn a pair of Big Ten titles.
In 1966, Jacoby left coaching to become the first commissioner of the Wisconsin State University Conference. Over his six years with the conference, he guided the nine schools through massive upgrades to playing facilities and officiating.
Jacoby offered over 34 years’ experience as a coach and administrator in interscholastic and intercollegiate athletics. As commissioner, he served as president of the Collegiate Commissioner’s Association (CCA), chairman of CCA National Letter of Intent Steering Committee, chairman of NCAA’s Post-Graduate Scholarship Committee, and NCAA’s prestigious Executive Committee.
