Jacob Whitehead returned to Head Coach Brian Barone's staff in May 2026.
Whitehead began his career at SIUE in 2017 as a student manager. He was elevated to graduate assistant/video coordinator/player development in 2021.
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.
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.
