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Opportunity finally knocks: Northern Illinois hires Rhode Island grid aide Darrell Funk
OPPORTUNITY FINALLY KNOCKS: NORTHERN ILLINOIS HIRES RHODE ISLAND GRID AIDE DARRELL FUNK DeKALB, IL --- Northern
Illinois University head football coach Joe Novak always remembers the
bright, young, upcoming talent in his profession for good reason. Which
is exactly how and why 37-year-old former University of Rhode Island defensive
coordinator Darrell Funk became the Huskies’ new tight end coach. Novak made the announcement
on his coaching staff change Tuesday (May 21). “You know, we
wanted to hire Darrell six years ago and just did not have the opportunity
to do it,” Novak said. “He was highly recommended to me back
then and is now. Darrell’s coached at the Division I, II, and III
levels. He’s been a coordinator and player on both sides of the ball.
A major part of his coaching and playing career have been on offense.
Most of all, he has a good feel with the kids---and that’s important
in teaching and schooling our student-athletes.” Funk has already started
memorizing the Huskie playbook and replaces Frank Kurth, who left Northern
Illinois after one season to become athletics director at Elkhart (IN)
Memorial High School. “This is really
an excellent opportunity for me,” Funk said. “I’ve been
trying to get on this staff for several years. I really respect and appreciate
what coach Novak and his staff has accomplished here. I think I know what
it has taken this program to get to this level. For me, it’s a privilege
to be on this staff.” Ironically, Funk represents
the fifth former Rhode Island assistant to move to Northern Illinois during
the Novak regime. Current Huskie coordinators Dan Roushar (1993) and Scott
Shafer (1993-95) worked at URI, along with linebackers coach Pat Narduzzi
(1993-99) and ex-Northern Illinois aide Mike Mallory (1993-95). “Yes, it’s
the Floyd Keith and Indiana connection,” Funk added. “I had
the opportunity to work with Pat for two years and I feel like I’ve
worked with Dan and Scott because I know so many people who know them.
They’ve all done a great job with this program and, of course, the
Mid-American Conference is a great, competitive league. Coach Roushar’s
offense has put up some pretty big numbers in recent years. I’ve
met some great kids in his program. I’m excited. It’s a great
challenge for me.” Funk arrived in Huskie
Country after four years at URI and, most recently, the Rams’ best
season since 1985. Under second-year boss Tim Stowers, Rhode Island finished
8-3 overall and wound up No. 20 in the final ESPN / USA Today Division
1-AA coaches’ poll and No. 21 nationally in the Sports Network version
last fall. URI won its first seven games---including triumphs over three
Top 20 1-AA teams---No. 4-rated Delaware, No. 4 Hofstra, and No. 19 William
& Mary---and, by late October, the Rams soared to the No. 4 spot in
both 1-AA polls. After going 3-8 in
2000, the five-victory improvement equaled the best in URI annals---tying
the 1967 and 1985 campaigns in that category. For Rhode Island, the 8-3
won-lost ledger represented the third-best overall record in the 102-year
history of Rams’ football, the first winning season in five years,
and the initial national ranking since 1985. Doubling as defensive
coordinator and linebackers coach last autumn, Funk’s Four-Three
alignment ranked No. 4 in Atlantic 10 Conference turnover margin (+0.27
per game), No. 4 in loop rushing defense (151.4 yards-per-game yield),
and No. 5 in league scoring defense (22.9 points per game). In addition,
Funk helped tutor the one-two all-time tacklers in URI history----linebacker
Paul Picciotti with 384 career stops and defensive back Lance Small, a
2001 Second-Team Promoted to defensive
coordinator in Stowers’ first year, Funk coached a revitalized Rhode
Island defense that yielded 321.3 yards---shaving 85.5 yards off its 1999
average---and 23.4 points per game in 2000. He began his association with
URI as offensive line coach for Keith in 1998. During 1993-97, Funk
served as an assistant at Mesa State College in Grand Junction, CO, for
two different head men---Jim Paronto in 1993 and Jay Hood in 1994-97.
Initially, Funk tutored the Mavericks’ O-line for two years prior
to being named offensive coordinator and offensive line boss during 1995-97.
Funk spent three campaigns on the defensive side of the ball for headman
Jeff Heacock at Muskingum College in New Concord, OH, in 1990-92. His
tenure with the Muskies---highlighted by a 7-3 season in 1991---included
assignments as D-line coach in the first year and as defensive coordinator
and defensive line boss the last two. The Fort Collins,
CO, native earned his master of science degree in athletic administration
from the University of Illinois in 1990 and served as a grad assistant
defensive line aide on two bowl teams for head coach John Mackovic. Funk
contributed to a 6-5-1 campaign and an appearance in the All-American
Bowl in 1988. The next year, the Illini finished second in the Big Ten
Conference with a 10-2 overall won-lost mark, wound up No. 10 in both
the Associated Press and United Press International wire service polls,
and defeated Virginia, 31-21, in the Florida Citrus Bowl. Funk began his sideline career as a student coach in 1987 at Colorado State University in his hometown while finishing work on his bachelor of arts degree in social services, which he received in 1988. A three-year regular
at three different positions---tight end, defensive end, and defensive
tackle, he won four varsity letters at CSU during 1983-86 for head coach
Leon Fuller. As a senior, Funk performed on a 6-5 Rams squad that defeated
both Brigham Young, 24-20, and Colorado, 23-7, en route to the school’s
first winning season since a 6-4-1 standard in 1980. At Rocky Mountain
High School in Fort Collins, Funk lettered in football (2) and basketball
(3). As a senior, he captained the 10-1 state-ranked eleven that lost
in the first-round of the state Class 4A (large schools) playoffs in 1982.
In his last year, Funk started both ways at tight end and defensive end,
plus was named First-Team All-Northern Conference, All-City, and All-State
for coach Pat O’Donnell. He also performed in the All-State North-South
Game in the summer (1983). Funk is married to
the former Teresa Innes of Urbana, IL. The couple has three children----sons
Tyler, 11, and Dustin, 7, plus daughter Courtney, 5. (For further information, please contact Mike Korcek) -30-
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