NIU coach knows about rebuilding

The 37-7 loss Northern Illinois University suffered against Texas Christian University in the 2006 Poinsettia Bowl played December 19 in San Diego was the Huskies’ first-ever bowl game loss in three NCAA Division I appearances, but the post-season defeat against a top-25 team couldn’t be considered NIU’s worst loss ever, even under coach Joe Novak.

Novak concluded his second year as the Huskies’ head coach with a 42-0 loss to Miami of Ohio on November 15, 1997, which gave NIU an 0-11 record for the season. Novak’s first season as head coach ended with a 67-28 loss to Oregon State on November 16, 1996, which gave the Huskies a 1-10 record that year. Novak began his career as NIU’s head coach with 26 losses in his first 27 games and 34 losses in his first 37 games. Those losses covered two eight-game losing streaks (one started under head coach Charlie Sadler) and a 23-game losing streak.

The NCAA Division I-A record for most consecutive losses is 34, set by Northwestern University between 1979 and 1982. The Wildcats’ streak ended with a 31-6 win over Northern Illinois on September 25, 1982, when Novak was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the Huskies.

NIU closed the 1982 season with four wins in its final five games to finish 5-5. In 1983, when Novak was still an NIU assistant coach, the Huskies finished 10-2 including a win in the California Bowl. After starting the 1999 season with four losses the Huskies won five of their next seven, and that 5-6 season is now NIU’s most recent losing year.

Even with the Poinsettia Bowl loss to TCU, Novak’s record following his first 37 games now stands at 58-32.

Novak’s NIU tenure was interrupted by 12 years as the University of Indiana’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He began his Hoosiers’ career with an 0-11 season in 1984 but also had eight-win seasons in 1987 and 1988 as well as in 1993.

In his 39 years as a head coach and assistant coach, Novak has experience in rebuilding football teams. “The old-fashioned way: you work at it, you earn it. There’s no trick,” he said of rebuilding a team. “There’s no easy way. You don’t take a pill.”

In 2002 Novak was named the Mid-American Conference coach of the year after an 8-4 record and his second consecutive MAC West co-championship. After finishing 10-2 in 2003, the American Football Coaches Association named him Region 3 Division I-A Coach of the Year for an area which included the Big Ten and Conference USA as well as the MAC and major independents. He was one of nine coaches to receive votes for the Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year award.

During that 2003 season he reflected on taking the Northern Illinois job in 1995. He compared the situation to a piece of property with a beautiful view and a rickety old barn, advising that one should “look past the barn, tear it down, and build whatever you want.”

“It’s blue-collar, it’s hard work, it’s commitment,” he said.

Novak also emphasized character. “It’s good kids,” he said.

Novak and his staff stressed winning the right way and emphasized the long term. When Novak became the head coach at Northern Illinois, he placed a sign on the locker room wall which read “Those Who Stay Will Be Champions.”

Novak’s first coaching championship was as the head coach of Warren Western Reserve High School, which won the Ohio state title in 1972. The following year that team finished 11-1 after a loss in the state finals.

Novak, who has now taken NIU to two bowl games in three years, believes that the key to rebuilding a football program is developing the student-athletes. “If you do that you’re going to have some success. If you don’t or try to take the easy way, you won’t,” he said.