'Just a big loss' for NIU
DEKALB -- Joe and Carole Novak invited Jim Phillips into their home Sunday night, served hot cider and muffins and then proceeded to knock the stuffing out of him.
In an informal atmosphere befitting his personality, Novak informed Northern Illinois' athletic director he planned to retire after 12 years as Huskies football coach.
"He was pretty adamant," said the unusually somber Phillips. "There was no negotiating or no, 'You sure? Give it a second thought.' He had his mind made up.
"It's just a big loss. It's a loss for our program, it's a loss for our university, the community. I just think so highly of him. To me, he's as good as you get in college athletics."
Novak, 62, compiled a 63-76 record during his tenure, but it's fair to say his win-loss mark didn't come close to conveying his successes at NIU.
Judging by the overflow crowd that showed up Monday afternoon at the Yordon Center to celebrate the man -- the McCareins Meeting Room was filled with players, assistants, coaches from other sports, President John G. Peters and his cabinet and trustees -- Novak made an indelible impression.
"It was a shock," said junior defensive end Larry English of the news, which Novak delivered to his players at a 7:15 a.m. meeting. "He's the face of this program. He is how this program is known -- for a long time."
Prior to Novak's return to NIU in December 1995 (he served as the Huskies' defensive coordinator from 1980-83 under Bill Mallory), the program had no top-25 appearances, 1 win over a top-25 opponent and one bowl appearance in its first 27 years as a Division I program.
After a painful 3-34 start as Novak weeded out older malcontents and planted young Chicago-area talent into key positions, Northern Illinois developed into the Mid-American Conference's most consistent program.
Along the way to seven consecutive winning seasons, the Huskies spent five consecutive weeks in the top 20, defeated three top-25 foes and competed in two bowls and one MAC title game.
NIU faltered to a 2-10 record this year, which was the only factor that almost changed Novak's mind and prompted him to return. But in the end he decided to stick with his unspoken preseason vow to step aside now.
"I promise you, I know it's time," he said. "We got into two-a-days and I realized -- I've got a little problem with my back and it's harder for me to stand -- and I said, 'You know what? I'm not sure I'm giving back as much as I should.'
"I'd sure like to go out on a higher note. I'd like to come back and work with these guys for another year or two.
"But it's time for Carole and I personally, and it's the best time for this program. We have a recruiting class of nine coming in (that has four current commitments). It'll be an easy transition. Jim will have somebody in here shortly."
Actually, Phillips doesn't have a timetable. While he possesses a short list that all athletic directors make in case of emergency, he had hoped Novak would return and allow Phillips to postpone such decisions.
Instead, Novak plans to buy a 23- to 25-foot party boat for their just-built retirement home on the water in Southport, N.C., and to experience normal-people things like the excitement of Christmas in downtown Chicago.
"I wrote down a list of 13 things," he said. "Every day is going to be Saturday. Very soon, I won't care what time it is."
Meanwhile, Phillips started searching Monday night for someone who possesses most, if not all, of Novak's qualities.
Though Novak doesn't want to be a big part of anointing his successor, Phillips wants him to weigh in as much as possible.
"I'm going to lean on him hard," Phillips said. "I want to cast a net as wide as possible. I want to look at assistant coaches at top schools. I want to look at current head coaches. I want to look at coaches in the pros that maybe have a college link.
"This is too good of an opportunity and too good of a job to be narrow-minded about names."
Joe Novak's career highlights
Year by year record:
• 1996: 1-10
• 1997: 0-11, 0-8 (6th in MAC West)
• 1998: 2-9, 2-6 (5th)
• 1999: 5-6, 5-3 (tie-2nd)
• 2000: 6-5, 4-3 (tie-3rd)
• 2001: 6-5, 4-3 (tie-1st)
• 2002: 8-4, 7-1 (tie-1st)
• 2003: 10-2, 6-2 (tie-2nd)
• 2004: 9-3, 7-1 (tie-1st)
• 2005: 7-5, 6-2 (1st)
• 2006: 7-6, 5-3 (3rd)
• 2007: 2-10, 1-6 (6th)
• Totals: 63-76, 47-38
Wins over Top 25 opponents: No. 20 Bowling Green (2002), No. 15 Maryland (2003), No. 21 Alabama (2003).
AP Top 25 appearances: Five weeks in 2003, capped by two weeks at a school-best No. 12.
Bowls: 2004 Silicon Valley, 2006 Poinsettia
Alums in NFL: TE Brad Cieslak (Buffalo) OT Ryan Diem (Indianapolis) OT Doug Free (Dallas) WR Sam Hurd (Dallas) WR Justin McCareins (N.Y. Jets) TE Jake Nordin (Baltimore) RB Michael Turner (San Diego) RB Garrett Wolfe (Bears)