After an extremely successful inaugural season, which included a new record set for goals against per game in an expansion campaign, a playoff berth and a pair of playoff wins, Nashville SC and general manager Mike Jacobs have agreed to a contract extension. The deal runs through the 2023 season.
Jacobs originally joined the club in 2018 during their time in USL. Prior to arriving in Nashville, Jacobs served as Sporting Kansas City’s assistant technical director.
“I and the owners are hugely delighted to announce we’ve reached an agreement to extend Mike’s role here at Nashville Soccer Club for a further three years," Nashville CEO Ian Ayre told media on a virtual press conference. "He’s a hugely talented individual, committed and extremely dedicated. He eats, sleeps and breathes this thing.”
Nashville finished seventh in the Eastern Conference then beat fellow expansion side Inter Miami 3-0 in the play-in round of the playoffs, before going on the road and upsetting Toronto FC after extra time. They fell to eventual MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew SC in the Eastern Conference semifinal.
“This job is a dream job for me," Jacobs said. "Not just the chance to put a team together and help run a club, but to do it here in Nashville. To do it with people I have shared visions with, people who get along real well.”
Jacobs was the chief architect of the club's core, acquiring the likes of Walker Zimmerman, Dax McCarty, current club-record signing Hany Mukhtar and many others. Zimmerman was named to MLS Best XI and won MLS Defender of the Year after a stellar campaign.
The club also made a number of midseason acquisitions to cement their standing above the playoff line, including a trade for Alex Muyl from the New York Red Bulls and signing Jhonder Cadiz on loan from Benfica as their third Designated Player.
Nashville's offseason is well underway, with the vast majority of that successful first squad returning, though with room for more additions. They have been linked with talented Uruaguayn youth international Rodrigo Pineiro over recent weeks among others.
Jacobs teased some roster news in the near future.
“In the coming days and weeks, you’ll be getting updates on the roster," Jacobs said. "You’ll have some updates on players returning to the group and updates on new signings as well.”
