Maria Jacobus was named head volleyball coach at Northeastern State University, ushering in a new era as the RiverHawks relaunch the program for the first time since the early 1980s. Tasked with rebuilding the program from the ground up, Jacobus brings proven leadership, competitive success and a passion for student-athlete development to Tahlequah.
Jacobus most recently served as assistant women’s volleyball coach and director of operations at the University of Idaho. In that role, she specialized in defensive scouting, match preparation and program operations, contributing to the Vandals’ competitive efforts at the NCAA Division I level.
Prior to Idaho, Jacobus was the head coach at Wenatchee Valley College from 2022–24. Taking over a rebuilding program in 2022, she quickly established a foundation for sustained success. After a transitional first season, the Knights surged in 2023 with a 13-3 conference record and a 22-10 overall mark, earning a postseason berth and maintaining a top-10 ranking in the NWAC Coaches Poll throughout the season. Multiple student-athletes received all-conference honors, and one was named NWAC Defensive Player of the Week.
Wenatchee Valley followed with another strong campaign in 2024, finishing 20-13 overall and returning to postseason play, while again placing multiple athletes on all-conference teams and sustaining a top-10 ranking.
Jacobus began her collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Wenatchee Valley while working in education, blending her passion for teaching with athletic mentorship.
A native of East Wenatchee, Washington, Jacobus is a former collegiate volleyball student-athlete at Wenatchee Valley College. She earned her Associate in Arts and Sciences degree from WVC before completing her bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a minor in teaching English as a second language from Central Washington University in 2020.
At Northeastern State, Jacobus is focused on restoring volleyball tradition while building a competitive program that reflects RiverHawk pride — in the classroom, in the community and on match day.
