SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – Mike Jacobs has been named the third Head Coach in the history of Notre Dame College Football, taking over for former Head Coach Bill Rychel, who resigned last week. 

Notre Dame College Athletic Director Scott Swain officially named Mike Jacobs the Head Coach on Monday. Jacobs, who has been with the program since 2014, served as the Defensive Line Coach in 2014, and was the Defensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach in 2015. In addition to naming Jacobs the new Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator Mickey Mental has also been promoted to Assistant Head Coach. 

"I'm very pleased to announce that we've named Mike Jacobs as our new Head Coach," said Swain. "Mike comes from a great football family, he played at a very high level at a great institution, and to have someone with that kind of pedigree gives our program an incredible future. I'm very excited to see what he will do as the new leader of our football program." 

Bill Rychel resigned after taking a job as the offensive coordinator at D-I Savannah State last week. He was named the Head Coach just a little less than a year ago, after serving the previous seven seasons as the Offensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach. 

"I appreciate everything that Coach Rychel has done for this program," added Swain. "I know he's always had aspirations to coach at the D-I level, so while we're sad to see him leave, I'm very excited for him and his family as he continues his coaching career." 

Jacobs, who will begin his third year with the program, joined Notre Dame in 2014, bringing 10 years of coaching experience with him. He spent nearly six years at California University of Pennsylvania, as their defensive line coach, and director of football operations. With the Vulcans, their defensive unit produced 16 All-PSAC performers, three NCAA-II All Americans, a PSAC Defensive Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and two Gene Upshaw Award finalists. In 2010, they finished second in D-II in total defense. In addition, they won the PSAC four times, appeared in the NCAA-II playoffs four times and made two final four appearances. 

Jacobs also spent three years on the Purdue coaching staff as an assistant offensive coach. He served as the offensive line coach at Wilmington College in 2004, and spent the two years before that as the assistant offensive line coach at Eastern Michigan.

As a student-athlete, Jacobs was a five year member and two time letter-winner at the Ohio State University from 1997-2001. He was an offensive lineman and a long snapper for both John Cooper and Jim Tressel, playing in over 30 games, including two Sugar Bowls.

"I am humbled an honored to have this opportunity to be the Head Coach at Notre Dame College," said Jacobs. "I'm very excited to serve these kids in this capacity, and to continue to take this program to the next level. It's even more special for me to coach in this area, where my Grandfather was a Hall of Famer, and Coached for nearly 45 years." 

Jacobs comes from a family full of football coaches. His Grandfather, Bill Jacobs, coached at Brunswick and Cuyahoga Heights for nearly 45 years and was inducted into the Ohio High School Hall of Fame. His father also served as an Assistant Coach under John Cooper and Don Nehlen.  

Mental, who is the only remaining member of the original coaching staff from 2009, will remain the Offensive Coordinator, and has been promoted to Assistant Head Coach. Mental has served as the Recruiting Coordinator for the last five seasons, and was promoted to Offensive Coordinator when Rychel was named the Head Coach last June. 

"Mickey has been a big part of this program since day one, helping to build the foundation of the program over the last seven years," Swain said. "He has been instrumental to the success of our recruiting, and his promotion to Head Coach is more than justified." 

The Falcons will begin the 2016 season at home against the University of Charleston on Saturday, Sept. 3. Kickoff is scheduled for Noon.