Nov. 26, 2007

Joe Novak's Career Highlights

• Coached in 11 bowl games in 34 years as a collegiate football coach, including two as the head coach of Northern Illinois (Silicon Valley Classic, 2004; Poinsettia, 2006).

• Ranks eighth in the MAC in all-time wins with 63, and also ranks tied for eighth in MAC-only wins with 47.

• Compiled seven-consecutive winning seasons from 2000-06, leading the Huskies to a 53-30 (.639) record, the 25th-best in the country over that span.

• Coached players that have earned six CoSIDA Academic All-America honors, while his team completed the 2007 spring semester with the highest grade point average in NIU football history. Novak has also had two of his players earn National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Awards (Josh Haldi, 2004; Patrick Stephen 1998).

• Recorded landmark wins over No. 20 Bowling Green (11/9/2002) , No. 15 Maryland (8/28/2003), and No. 21 Alabama (9/20/2003).

• Since 2000, led the Huskies to an impressive 33-12 (.733) record at Huskie Stadium.

• Earned MAC Coach of the Year honors after he led NIU to an 8-4 season in 2002.

• Garnered American Football Coaches Association Region Three Coach of the Year accolades in 2003 following a 10-2 campaign.

• Guided eight players to All-American status, coached 41 All-MAC honorees, and had five players taken in the NFL draft.

• Following the 2007 season, was the seventh-longest tenured head coach in the nation (FBS).

• Tutored coaches as well as players, with 18 former assistants taking jobs at BCS schools after working under Novak.