Jay Niemann
Jay Niemann

Position:
Defensive Coordinator/Safeties

Experience:
2nd Season at NIU

Alma Mater, Year:
Iowa State, 1983


10/08/2011

Dominating Defensive Effort Leads NIU Over Kent State, 40-10

Huskie defense allows just 70 yards while recording seven sacks and three turnovers

01/10/2012

Fans greet Huskies after bowl victory

NIU faithful greeted the Huskies at the team hotel following their bowl win.

01/10/2012

NIU defeats Arkansas State, 38-20

Huskies defeat Arkansas State, 38-20, in 2012 GoDaddy.com Bowl

12/03/2011

Huskies comeback to beat Bobcats, 23-20

NIU defeats Ohio, 23-20, to win its first MAC title in 28 years.

11/26/2011

NIU defeats Eastern Michigan

Huskies defeat Eagles to win MAC West

11/17/2011

NIU retains Bronze Stalk trophy

NIU defeats Ball State, 41-38, in a thriller

Jay Niemann, a veteran defensive coordinator who has spent much of his career in Iowa, leads the Northern Illinois defensive staff and coaches the Huskies' safeties. Niemann has spent the past 25 years as a collegiate coach on the defensive side of the ball, and has been a defensive coordinator nearly as long. In three seasons as secondary coach and co-defensive coordinator at Hardin-Simmons University in Texas, he helped turn around a defense that ranked last in the nation prior to his arrival to the No. 2 unit in the American Southwest Conference in 2009. He coached free safety Matt Warnish to All-America honors in 2008 and saw three of his defensive backs earn all-conference accolades in the past two seasons. The Avoca, Iowa native also brings experience as a head coach to the NIU sidelines as he served as head coach at Simpson (Iowa) College from 2002-07 and compiled a 32-29 record. He led Simpson to the 2003 NCAA playoffs while also serving as the Storm defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. In five years at the University of Northern Iowa (1997-2001), Niemann served as the secondary coach (1997, 2001), linebacker coach (1998-99) and defensive coordinator (1999-2000). The Panthers advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs in 2001, where they were defeated by a Montana staff that included Doeren. At UNI, Niemann coached cornerback Ty Talton, who went on to play in the NFL. Niemann spent seven seasons at Drake University as the assistant head coach (beginning in 1995), defensive coordinator and secondary coach. The Iowa State grad, who played for the Cyclones from 1979-82, began his career as an assistant coach at Western Washington University and also was a graduate assistant coach at the University of Washington where he worked for UW legends Don James and Jim Lambright.

About Niemann

COACHING EXPERIENCE

2011- Northern Illinois (Defensive Coordinator/Safeties)
2008-10 Hardin-Simmons (Co-Defensive Coord./DBs)
2002-07 Simpson (Head Coach)
1997-01 Northern Iowa (Defensive Coordinator/LBs/DBs)
1989-96 Drake (Defensive Coordinator/Assist.Head Coach/DBs)
1985-89 Washington (Graduate Assistant)

POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE

2008 NCAA D-III Playoffs
2003 NCAA D-III Playoffs
2001 FCS National Semi-Finals
1987 Independence Bowl (Washington, GA)
1986 Sun Bowl (Washington, GA)

PLAYING EXPERIENCE

1979-82 Iowa State

EDUCATION

College: B.S., Iowa State 1983
M.A., Western Washington, 1988
High School Avo-Ha Community, 1979

PERSONAL

Birthdate: Nov. 27, 1960
Birthplace: Harlan, Iowa
Hometown: Avoca, Iowa
Family: Wife, LouAnn, sons Ben (16) and Nick (13)


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