What kind of coach does NIU need?
Joe Novak certainly raised the bar for Northern Illinois football, taking his team to two bowl games in the last four years after it had only one such appearance in its first 27 years as a Division I program. So, what kind of experience are you looking for in your next head coach? Would you be happy with a Novak disciple who understands the program (say someone like Stanford defensive coordinator Scott Shafer, Purdue assistant head coach Mark Hagen or Indiana offensive coordinator Matt Canada)? Or would you prefer a former big-name coach now looking for work (Larry Coker from Miami or Bill Callahan from Nebraska)? Or do you want an up-and-coming assistant ready for his first head coaching job (Illinois offensive coordinator Mike Locksley, for example)? Tell us what you think at sportstalk@dailyherald.com. Please limit your comments to 200 words and include your name, hometown and daytime phone number (for verification purposes).