NIU baseball coach returns to North Central

DeKALB - Northern Illinois University head baseball coach Ed Mathey has resigned and will take over as head coach at North Central College, a position he held before joining NIU in 2003.

NIU Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier thanked Mathey for his 12 years of service to NIU and said the Huskies will begin a national search to replace Mathey.

Mathey, NIU's all-time leader in wins, compiled a record of 294-371-2 with the Huskies, which included the 2013 Mid-American Conference West Division Championship.

"For me it's bittersweet to leave a place that has meant so much to me, a place where over the past 12-plus years, I have met a lot of great people and made friendships I will take with me," Mathey said.

In nine seasons at North Central, Mathey collected 205 victories and led the Naperville college team to CCIW Championships in 1994, 1996 and 1998 while finishing runner-up in each of the 1995 and 2001 seasons.