Basketball’s Senderoff inks extension – Jacobs declares for NBA draft

Jacob Shondel, Reporter|April 5, 2023

Matthew Brown

Kent State head coach Rob Senderoff gives enthusiastic direction to the players on the court during the game against Portland University.

Kent State men’s basketball announced Wednesday that coach Rob Senderoff agreed to a contract extension through the 2028-29 season. 

Senderoff has been a part of the basketball program for 15 seasons and head coach since 2011. 

He has led his teams to eight 20-plus win seasons and is the sixth coach in the program to win Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year (2021-22). 

Senderoff is KSU’s all-time winningest coach at 247.

Nine athletes under his tenure have been awarded First-Team All-Conference, including Sincere Carry winning 2021-22 Player of the Year and Malique Jacobs taking home 2022-23 Defensive Player of the Year. 

Last season’s 28 wins were tied for the second most in program history, including his second NCAA tournament appearance. 

The success of Senderoff’s players doesn’t stop on the court, as his team had the highest term grade point average in program history last semester.

He was named a finalist for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award, given to the coach that shows the most success on and off the court.

Kent State redshirt senior Malique Jacobs looks for an open teammate to pass the ball to during the game against Ohio University Feb. 28, 2023. (Matthew Brown)

Malique Jacobs

The redshirt senior guard announced Wednesday that he will declare for the NBA draft. 

Jacobs came to Kent State in 2020-21 after attending junior college at Indian Hills CC. 

In his first season with the Flashes, he was named to the All-MAC Defensive Team, posting the second most steals in the conference (45). 

While at Kent State, he put his name into the record books by recording the first triple-double in program history. 

En route to winning the MAC Defensive Player of the Year award last season, Jacobs recorded the most steals in a single game (10) and most in a season (90). 

“I’d like to thank everyone at Kent State for a very memorable season,” Jacobs said on his personal Instagram. “To the fans, you guys no doubt were a huge part of our success. The support never went unnoticed.”

Jacobs joins redshirt seniors Sincere Carry and Miyrne Thomas in declaring for the NBA draft. 

The three starters accounted for 48% of the minutes last season. 

Jacob Shondel is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].