Elon University Athletics

Jess Kohut Jacobson completed her seventh season as the associate head coach of the Phoenix softball program. Jacobson returned to Elon in August 2011 after a year as the assistant coach at Saint Peter’s College in Jersey City, N.J. Jacobson previously served as an assistant coach from 2009-10 and heads the pitching staff as well as the role of recruiting coordinator.
 
In 2018, Jacobson developed a pitching staff that had only one player with more than one season of collegiate experience. Senior Kiandra Mitchum continued to thrive under Jacobson's tutelage as she became the second Elon pitcher to throw a perfect game versus Mount Saint Mary's on Feb. 18. Mitchum would conclude her career tied for the program-record in saves (six), second in career appearances (120) and in the top-five in strikeouts (357).

The 2017 season saw Jacobson help build her pitching staff into one best units in the CAA. Elon was in the top-three of the league in total ERA at 2.86, its lowest team total since 2010. The Phoenix also was third in the CAA with 233 strikeouts while its eight shutouts was the most for the team since 2011. Junior Kiandra Mitchum was the highlight for the Phoenix pitching staff as the lefty became Elon’s first first-team all-conference pitcher ever at the Division I level and its second all-league hurler within the past two seasons. Mitchum set numerous Division I single-season team records in 2017 including wins (18), strikeouts (180), ERA (2.18) and strikeouts per seven innings (5.95).

In 2016, Jacobson aided the Phoenix staff to post its best ERA since 2011 at 3.23 while achieving its highest strikeout total since 2012. Elon also had its first-ever perfect game at the Division I level with Abby Barker achieving the feat against Niagara on March 11. The Phoenix also had two pitchers post sub-three ERAs with over 100 innings pitched in Elise Walton and Kayla Caruso with Caruso becoming Elon's first all-conference hurler at the Division I level. Caruso also earned CAA Pitcher of the Week accolades after she helped the Phoenix to a 5-4 victory over No. 6 James Madison on April 30 while pitching 15 innings. Jacobson also saw Walton earn a spot on the CAA All-Rookie Team and Kiandra Mitchum named to the league's All-Tournament team.

During the 2015 season, Jacobson helped the Phoenix to 31 wins and a third-place finish in its first year in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Phoenix led the league in saves with 11, setting a new program and single-season record. Caitlin O'Shea tied the program's all-time career saves record (6) while Chelsea White broke the single-season saves record during the year with four. Elon also posted its lowest ERA total since 2012 at 3.69 and saw Kayla Caruso pick up 12 wins during the season, the most for an Phoenix pitcher since 2012.

In 2014, continued with the development of her staff with returners Caitlin O'Shea and Chelsea White. O'Shea became the Phoenix's first pitcher since 2010 to have a sub-three ERA with more than 100 innings pitched and earned a SoCon Pitcher of the Week award. White lead the maroon and gold with in wins and strikeouts and set a new career-high with eight strikeouts versus Dayton.

The 2013 season saw Jacobson mold a young staff and help guide them a number of great performances throughout the year, including SoCon Player of the Week accolades for sophomore Chelsea White and the team's Newcomer of the Year award for Kayla Caruso. Under Jacobson's leadership, White allowed only one earned run while striking out seven batters in the Phoenix's 5-2 upset win at No. 8 Georgia while Caruso became the first freshman to lead the team in wins and innings pitched since 2009.

In 2012, Jacobson oversaw the development of the Phoenix pitching staff throughout the season and helped it ranked fifth in the Southern Conference in team ERA. She also helped the leading pitcher earn a spot on the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) University Division All-State Softball Team.

Jacobson managed the pitching staff at Saint Peter’s and helped the lone 2011 returning pitcher improve her performance significantly over the season. She also developed a base in the Jersey City community by spearheading clinic preparations and implementing a bat girl program.

During her previous stint at Elon during the 2010 season, Jacobson served as the pitching coach, helping the Phoenix to a 38-21 record, the most wins in program history. Jacobson assisted the team to its first ever Southern Conference championship and its first NCAA Regional berth. She also served as the program’s recruiting coordinator.
 
Before arriving at Elon, she served as the graduate assistant coach at the University of New Haven from 2008-09 where she created and implemented daily workouts for the pitching staff, conducted team practices, organized fundraising efforts and helped in the recruiting efforts. She led her pitching staff to a 1.83 ERA and a 34-18 record with the Bre Gleason breaking the school strikeout record, becoming a third-team All-America selection, a first-team All-East selection and conference pitcher of the year. Gleason would later be inducted into New Haven's Hall of Fame in 2015.
 
Jacobson spent the 2008 season as the first assistant coach at Drew University where she wrote and supervised daily pitching workouts and worked with student-athletes to improve their game knowledge and physical skills.
 
A 2007 graduate of The College of New Jersey with a dual degree in elementary education and psychology, Jacobson was a four-year member and two-year captain if the Lions’ softball team. She earned all-conference and all-region honors as a pitcher and a hitter. Jacobson received the 2007 Honda Inspiration Award given annually to one outstanding female college athlete who has overcome adversity to excel in her sport.
 
Jacobson received her master’s degree in management of sport industries from New Haven in 2009. The former Jess Kohut married Evan Jacobson in November of 2013.