EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE men's basketball Head Coach Brian Barone has announced the addition of SIUE alum Jacob Whitehead as an assistant coach.
Whitehead began his career at SIUE in 2017 as a student manager. He was elevated to graduate assistant/video coordinator/player development in 2021.
"Seven years ago, when I first was hired as the head coach, he believed in what we were building," Barone said. "He invested himself fully into this program, our players, and our culture. In fact, Jacob was the person who hung a pair of scissors above our locker room door the day after I took over symbolizing the belief that one day SIUE would win an OVC Championship and play in the NCAA Tournament. When we made that belief a reality he was in attendance for our championship game."
The native of Flora, Illinois, returns to Edwardsville after four seasons with Ole Miss women's basketball. With the Rebels, he played a key role in one of the program's most successful stretches in recent history. During the 2025–26 campaign, he helped guide the Rebels to victories over three AP top-five opponents while advancing to the semifinals of the SEC Tournament. Ole Miss also earned an NCAA Tournament first-round win over Gonzaga Bulldogs.
"This is a special opportunity for me, and I am extremely thankful to return to SIUE," Whitehead said. "I have a tremendous amount of respect, loyalty, and belief in Coach Barone and his vision for this program. I am excited to get to work, invest in our players, and chase another championship alongside him."
In his time in Oxford, Whitehead helped the Rebels to two Sweet 16 appearances, a school-record for SEC wins in a season, three semifinal appearances, and four victories over top-five opponents. He also was instrumental in roster construction, helping to assemble ESPN's No. 2-ranked transfer portal class ahead of the season.
Whitehead was a key contributor through his player development, helping guide multiple WNBA Draft selections during the 2025–26 season, including Cotie McMahon and Latasha Lattimore. McMahon earned SEC Newcomer of the Year and All-SEC First Team honors.
At SIUE, Whitehead contributed significantly to player development, film breakdown, and daily operations. He also supervised the program's executive staff and played a role in enhancing the program's branding and social media presence.
He earned his bachelor's in 2020 and a master's degree in physical education and coaching pedagogy in 2022. Both are from SIUE.
"Jacob has been around high-level basketball, elite preparation, and has been part of successful teams that competed in postseason basketball," Barone added. "That overall basketball experience will immediately impact our program. More importantly, he understands who we are and what our culture is built on because he helped lay the foundation for it. I'm excited to have him back home at SIUE and thrilled for our players to work with someone who truly embodies our 'Find A Way' mentality and has always been part of our 'Find A Way Family'."
