PAGE HEADER COACHING M AC W E S T STAFF 2001 2002 2004 2005 C H A M P I O N S www.niuhuskies.com Section Title 25 HEAD COACH JOE NOVAK Regardless He envisioned his team upsetting a cent graduation rate during 1999-2004, of today’s national program before a sellout according to a national survey. t e c h n o - Huskie Stadium crowd on national The success has also elevated Novak d r i v e n , television. into two MAC Top 20 victory lists. Cur- s p e e d The Cinderella 2003 campaign plus rently, the 11th-year Northern Illinois of light, postseason appearances in 2004 and grid boss is 11th in league wins (41) and c y b e r - 2005 are reality TV at its Huskie fin- tied for 14th on the all-time (53) list. s p a c e d est. All of which is light years from the pace, it’s Suddenly, Northern Illinois’ marquee dismal three-digit national rankings the old- value has soared regionally and nation- when Novak’s reconstruction project s c h o o l ally with 28 television appearances in began in 1996. principles just the past three seasons. The revitalization of the Northern o f p a - For the second straight year, North- Illinois program has certainly turned Joe Novak t i e n c e , ern Illinois’ season-opening road effort heads on a regional and national ba- l o y a l t y, will air on ABC. The Huskies’ made sis. It began somewhat quietly as the C H A M P I O N S work ethic, respect, and integrity which their 2005 debut at the University of Huskies posted notable wins over Wake have made Northern Illinois University Michigan’s “Big House” while 2006 Forest University and Bowling Green head football coach Joe Novak a 21st starts at Ohio State University’s famed State Univesity before landing among century success. “Horseshoe.” For the second consecu- the nation’s Top 40 in November, 2002. His unassuming personality and per- tive season, a minimum of nine NIU It marked the first time NIU received severance are stamped all over a Huskie contests will be televised. votes in the major-college polls since program that has steadily ascended into A pair of MAC West Division show- 1989. the nation’s Top 30 from the depths downs in 2006 will bring Northern The reconstruction took on a mete- of the major-college ranks. Whether Illinois’ appearances on the ESPN net- oric rise in 2003. That Cinderella cam- 0-11 or 10-2, the Novak demeanor and works (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic or paign saw the Huskies top three Bowl method never changed. Through feast ESPNU) to a total of 10. Championship Series opponents— the or famine, the 61-year-old has been the Novak’s program seeks its seventh University of Maryland, University of epitome of patience and vision. straight winning season after last year’s Alabama and Iowa State University— Those attributes have produced an success became the program’s longest and win their first seven games. unprecedented six consecutive winning 1-A string of success and the longest In DeKalb, it was Mardi Gras, New seasons for the Huskies, as well as a since a five-year stretch during 1962- Year’s Eve, and Fourth of July, all in share of the Mid-American Conference 66 in the Huskies’ College Division one. By mid-October, the unheralded West Division title for the fourth time heyday. Huskies ranked No. 10 in the initial within the last five years. In addition In the past three campaigns, over BCS standings, No. 12 in the Associ- to a stellar 26-10 ledger for the past a half million (536,881) fans have ated Press poll, and No. 14 in the ESPN three years, Northern Illinois played packed Huskie Stadium for a 23-home / USA Today version. Novak’s team set in the 2005 MAC Championship Game game average of 23,343. In 2004, NIU a school record with 10 regular-season as a postseason encore to 2004 when led the Mid-Am in home attendance victories. NIU capped off that year with a 34-21 with a school single-season record of At the conclusion of that season- 2001 2002triumph 2004 2005 over Troy University in the 27,052 per-game average. That year, opening surprise sprung on the Ter- Silicon Valley Football Classic. Novak tutored a league-high 12 All- rapins, there was a rare moment of That marked Northern Illinois’ first MAC players, 10 Mid-Am Players of the emotion from Novak. postseason bowl appearance in 21 Week, eight senior National Football For those witnessing Novak raise years since the 1983 California Bowl League free agents, and five MAC All- his arms in exultation, it was a display III triumph. It was back then, as as- Academic performers. that also served as the celebration, sistant to NIU Hall of Fame coach Bill Under his tutelage, NIU has won 38 realization, and culmination of eight Mallory, that Novak first envisioned of its last 53 games (a .716 winning rebuilding years. Due to that dramatic what Huskie football could be. Novak percentage), 28 of the last 35 at home turnaround, Novak’s contract was ex- completely understood the situation, (.800 ), and 26 of its last 32 in the highly tended from April 2004 through the M AC W E S T its uniqueness, its potential, its loca- competitive Mid-Am (.813). His Huskie 2007 season. tion, etc. teams have crashed the national wire Not only was the nation asking That’s why he sought the job twice, services’ Top 30 the last three years about All-America tailback Michael finally getting his opportunity in De- and Novak’s tenure includes a pair of “The Burner” Turner, but—more im- cember, 1995. In the duration, Novak seven-game win streaks. portantly—were these Huskies for real dreamed of the day when he would In the classroom, Northern Illinois and just exactly who is this Novak fel- guide the Huskies back to a bowl. made the Top 25, too, with a 71.4 per- low? Late in his coaching life, Novak 26 Coaching Staff www.niuhuskies.com HEAD COACH JOE NOVAK has finally begun to be recognized for (Stephen in 1998 and QB Josh Haldi in were many, it was Novak’s integrity his sideline and recruiting acumen. 2004). and insistence on staying with The In January, 2005, he was selected to In 2003, Northern Illinois led the Mid- Plan, building the program with high the American Football Coaches Asso- Am with two postseason All-America school talent and avoiding the temp- M AC W E S T ciation Board of Trustees. In June, he selections—Turner and placekicker tation for the “quick fix.” In a major was the recipient of the prestigious Ray Steve Azar, 10 all-league performers, feature story in 2002, the Chicago Tri- Meyer Coach Award at the 2005 Giant and 16 MAC Player of the Week picks. bune referred to Novak’s persistence Awards Dinner in Chicago. The year before, Novak’s troops were as “dogged resolve.” Although it took until the 35th year loop pacesetters in All-America types Since being elevated to major-col- of his career, Novak finally coached (Turner and punt returner Dan Shel- lege status in 1969, the Huskies have in a national all-star game (Blue-Gray don), All-MAC picks (11), and Mid-Am produced 13 winning campaigns—six Classic) in December of 2003 and was Players of the Week (12). Turner, now in the Novak regime. back on the sideline for the 2005 Hula the No. 15 all-time career rusher in Na- Win or lose, Novak maintained the Bowl. tional Collegiate Athletic Association cool, calm behavior. His engaging 2001 2002 2004 2005 In 2003, Novak was named the Division 1-A history, won back-to-back smile and funny one-liners hid many of American Football Coaches Associa- loop rushing titles, plus finished run- the early frustrations. Enduring those tion Region 3 Division 1-A Coach of ner-up for the Vern Smith Award and early Northern Illinois years tested his the Year in a geographical area that MAC Offensive Player of the Year in resolve to the ultimate degree, but not encompassed the Big Ten Conference, 2002 and 2003. In addition, the Huskies to the point of compromise. Novak Conference USA, the MAC, and major have claimed four of the last five Mid- and his staff stressed the long term. His independents. By mid-season, he was Am Special Teams Player of the Year program would win the right way. a viable candidate for the Bobby Dodd awards. From rock bottom to Top 40 respect- National Coach of the Year Award. In The 2004 turnstile record average ability. That was the plan all along. the AP National Coach of the Year bal- (27,052 for five home games) erased Eleven years ago, Novak placed a sign loting for 2003, Novak was one of nine the previous hallmark (23,575 set for on the wall in his team’s locker room. coaches to receive at least one vote. seven dates in 2003). Northern Illi- The placard read: “Those Who Stay In a typical response, Novak credited nois now boasts 17 20,000-plus home Will Be Champions.” It was a promise everyone for the AFCA Region 3 honor. crowds over the last four seasons. that if the players worked and over- “It’s really great to be recognized for The best-ever home-opening crowd came the many obstacles through such a prestigious award,” the North- of 28,071 for the 23-22 victory over the reconstruction period that a MAC ern Illinois bossman said.