NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOTBALL COACH JOE NOVAK PROMOTES MATT CANADA TO OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
DeKALB, IL--- Moving up the ladder in any profession gives one great satisfaction. For Northern Illinois University football assistant coach Matt Canada, becoming an offensive coordinator at the major-college level was a lifelong dream.

The 31-year-old Canada was promoted from Huskie quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator, succeeding Dan Roushar who accepted a position on the University of Illinois football staff last month. NIU head football coach Joe Novak made the announcement Wednesday (February 12).

“This is a tremendous opportunity,” said Canada who starts his sixth season on the Northern Illinois braintrust. “I’m honored that coach Novak gave me this opportunity to be a coordinator at this level. I came aboard five years ago and our intent was to be part of a championship program. Lifetime goal? There’s no question. I’ve wanted to be a coordinator at the (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division 1-A level all my life.

“To me, it’s special to be a coordinator and it’s more special to be a coordinator here in this program. I have a great deal of respect for coach Novak, our staff, and our student-athletes. The most exciting part of this is that a lot of the pieces of the puzzle are back next year on offense.”

In 2003, Canada, of course, will run a Huskie I-Formation attack that features (1) the nation’s top returning Division 1-A rusher in senior-to-be All-America candidate Michael Turner who gained a Mid-American Conference single-season record 1,915 yards last fall and (2) the program’s most prolific sophomore passer in junior-to-be Josh Haldi who completed 130-of-254 passes for 2,027 yards last year---the most single-season passing yardage ever by a sophomore NIU QB.

“Matt Canada is a deserving young coach who has earned this promotion,” Novak said. “He’s been with our staff the last five years and knows our offensive system backwards and forwards. Matt was an offensive coordinator before at Butler. This will make for an easy transition for our staff and players. And, most of all, I believe in promoting from within. Matt has been extremely loyal to the program. He’s a good young coach and will do a great job for us. At the same time, we all want to wish Dan Roushar well in his new job at Illinois.”

On paper, Novak’s Huskies return eight starters from an offense that ranked a respectable No. 27 in NCAA Division 1-A rushing (200.8 yards-per-game average) and No. 27 in scoring (31.3 ppg.) last season. In 2002, Northern Illinois finished 8-4 overall and shared the MAC West Division title for the second year in a row.

In three seasons as Novak’s runningbacks coach, Canada schooled two 1,000-yard rushers in tailbacks William Andrews (1,127 yards in 1999) and Thomas Hammock (1,083 yards in 2000). In 2001, Canada started working with the Huskie quarterbacks, including Chris Finlen who threw for 2,036 yards and 14 touchdowns on 166-of-331 passes in 2001 and recently signed a free agent contract with the National Football League New Orleans Saints, plus Haldi.

Canada started his sideline career as a student coach (1992-93) and graduate assistant (1994-95) at Indiana University where Novak served as defensive coordinator under Hall of Fame coach Bill Mallory. The New Palestine, IN, product became a full-time aide at Butler University in 1996, coaching the Bulldog quarterbacks and receivers under head man Ken LaRose.

A year later, he was promoted to offensive coordinator at BU. In 1997, Canada revamped Butler’s aerial attack as the Bulldogs moved from last (98.1 ypg.) in the Pioneer Football League passing stats to second (211.8 ypg.). Butler’s TD pass count doubled from six to 12 while the total offense improved from 257.6 ypg. to a rate of 349.8 ypg.

At Indiana, he helped ex-Huskie coach and former Ball State head man Bill Lynch with the quarterbacks and receivers in 1994 before lending a hand with the tight ends in 1995.
At New Palestine, IN, High School, Canada was a three-year letterman in both football and basketball. In two seasons as a starter, he quarterbacked the Dragons to a 20-3 mark. The 1988 campaign produced a 10-1-0 record and a Big Blue River Conference title as Canada earned Indianapolis All-Metro and All-State accolades. NPHS went 10-2-0 and won the sectional championship in his senior year.Canada was also a First-Team All-Rangerline Conference pick as a senior in basketball when he earned team MVP honors, but suffered a right knee injury which kept him from playing collegiate athletics.

Canada earned a bachelor of science degree in business from Indiana in 1993 and a master’s degree in sports administration from IU in 1995. He is married to the former Michelle Fariello of Fair Hope, AL. The couple has a daughter, Victoria, and a son, Chris.

(For more information, please contact Mike Korcek)

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