Dear Fellow Huskie,

As we reflect back on a very fast and gratifying year for Northern Illinois University and our athletics program, it is my sincere hope that the accomplishments detailed in this report give you as much pride as they do me, our staff, coaches, and student-athletes.

Without question, our student-athletes’ most profound accomplishment this year was an amazing EIGHTH straight semester with a collective student-athlete grade point average above 3.0. Their hard work, combined with the commitment of our head coaches and academic support staff, has allowed this amazing streak to continue. Additionally, our department was awarded the Mid-American Conference Institutional Academic Achievement Award. This new award is based on an annual GPA comparison and reflects the academic performance of an institution’s athletics program in a given academic year.

In October of 2008, we announced a record year for our Huskie Athletic Scholarship Fund (HASF), both in number of donors and in dollars raised. If you are not familiar with the difference that HASF has made for each of our 17 sports programs, it is detailed in these pages. In a challenging economy, this was certainly a point of difference for our department.

Unveiling our 2008-2011 Intercollegiate Athletics Strategic Plan was another highlight for our department this year. With participation from a cross-section of administrators, head coaches, athletic staff, student-athletes, and numerous campus and external constituents, we truly believe we have charted the course for future Huskie success. Our department mission is to DEVELOP CHAMPIONS – in the classroom, in competition, and in life. It is a very direct, yet achievable, mission that will be the cornerstone of our goals and actions.

Recently, we announced multi-year extensions with broadcast partners Comcast SportsNet Chicago and WSCR 670 AM The Score, and we have also extended agreements with adidas and Pepsi over the last year. These partnerships provide our department with resources that allow us to stay competitive in the Mid-American Conference.

A positive recurring theme from last year is the depth and breadth of our student-athlete achievement – individually and collectively – in both their scholarly and competitive pursuits. As you flip through the pages of the report, please take pride in your support of these accomplishments.

In closing, we talk constantly in our department about progress. In order to truly develop champions – in the classroom, in competition, and in life – we must always be mindful of and continue to invest in our most precious resource – our talented student-athletes.

GO HUSKIES!

C. Jeffrey CompherAssociate Vice President / Director of AthleticsNorthern Illinois University

The numbers don’t lie. Eight-straight semesters – four years – with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better. Any way you do the

math, it is a remarkable feat. Northern Illinois University student-athletes combined to post a cumulative GPA of 3.025 for the 2009 spring term, keeping alive a streak that dates back to the fall of 2005.

In all, nine of 17 NIU teams compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above, while 215 student-athletes achieved that mark individually. The volleyball team took home the honor of “best in class” with a cumulative GPA of 3.324, narrowly edging out the gymnastics team, which checked in with a 3.320. Three teams – volleyball, softball and women’s track & field – posted their highest term GPAs in school history in 2009, with each achieving the feat in the fall semester. Individually, eight NIU student-athletes boasted a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average in both the fall and spring semesters.

For the fourth consecutive year, all 17 NIU sports programs exceeded the academic standards set by the NCAA as determined by the Academic Progress Rate (APR). While every Northern Illinois team scored above the 925 standard, the threshold teams must meet or face possible sanctions, 15 teams surpassed a 945.

Finally, but most importantly, 66 NIU student-athletes achieved their dream of earning an undergraduate degree from Northern Illinois University in 2008-09.

Northern Illinois was presented with the Mid-American Conference’s Institutional Academic Achievement Award at the 2009 MAC Basketball Tournament. NIU’s student-athletes posted the highest grade point average in the league for the 2007-08 academic year with a mark of 3.04.

The hard work NIU student-athletes put forth in athletic competition is matched only by their effort in the classroom. Not only have NIU student-athletes “made the grade” in each of the last eight semesters, they have achieved the 3.0 mark in 11 of the last 13 terms, dating back to spring 2003.

The Northern Illinois University volleyball team was rewarded for its work in the classroom as the Huskies earned an American Volleyball Coaching Association Team Academic Award for 2008-09 for the first time in school history. The team scored its highest GPA in school history, earning a 3.338 in the fall semester. Meagan Schoenrock (below) was one of three Huskies to earn Academic All-MAC honors.

Student-Athlete Academic Support Services is the academic unit within the NIU Vice Provost’s Office which helps guide student-athletes through their academic careers at Northern Illinois. Members of the SAASS staff work collaboratively with other university offices to provide student-athletes with the tools necessary for success. By maintaining strong working relationships with departmental academic advisors, professors, and university-wide student support services, SAASS counselors ensure that student-athletes have access to all resources and programs on NIU’s campus. The SAASS staff provides educational and life skills programs to achieve Huskie Athletics’ goal of enhancing the academic, athletic and social skills of student-athletes.

Below: Offensive tackle Jon Brost, from Maple Grove, Minn., wrapped up a stellar academic career at NIU in 2008-09. He was named to the Academic All-MAC Team for the third-straight year and was honored by the Independence Bowl as one of its Scholar-Athletes of the Year.

Above: NIU freshman baseball player and Chicago native Troy White (left) was honored in a special pregame ceremony at Wrigley Field on Jackie Robinson Day as he is on scholarship at NIU through the Jackie Robinson Foundation.

Thea JohnsonWomen’s Soccer

Denisse ValladaresCross Country

Jennene Anthony Track & FieldBrad Bahr Men’s SoccerJavier Bernabe Men’s TennisBreanna Brevitt Cross CountryJon Brost FootballLuis De La Cerda Men’s SoccerLindsey Curnock Women’s SoccerAndrew Frame Men’s GolfMeghan Ginter Cross Country Track and FieldEmily Gooding SoftballJody Hardwick VolleyballChandler Harnish FootballChris Johnson Men’s SoccerIrene Johnson VolleyballThea Johnson Women’s SoccerTim Kay Men’s GolfMike Krause FootballKyle Knotek Men’s SoccerMonica Lang VolleyballJessica Marston GymnasticsRochelle Muskeyvalley Track and FieldJennifer Naughton GymnasticsBryan O’Connor WrestlingBailey Ouellette SoftballHolly Reichard GymnasticsCraig Rusch FootballPat Schiller FootballMeagan Schoenrock VolleyballMatt Simon FootballBecky Smith Women’s BasketballJessica Statler Track & FieldAmanda Tadla VolleyballDenisse Valladares Cross CountryKaylee Walters Track and FieldJessie Wilcox Women’s BasketballAnnie Wyer Women’s SoccerAaron Zendejas Men’s Soccer

Community involvement is a fundamental tenet of the Huskies’ philosophy of developing champions, in competition, in the classroom and in life. Through on-

going projects and new initiatives on the local, state, national and even international levels, Northern Illinois University student-athletes maintain a strong presence in the DeKalb-Sycamore community and in their hometowns.

In April, Northern Illinois Athletics announced that it was joining Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White’s “team” and will promote the state’s organ and tissue donation registry through its athletics events in 2009-10. Illinois already boasts one of the most successful state registries in the country, and Secretary White hopes partnerships like the one announced with NIU will spur even more people to “give the gift of life.”

NIU’s CHAMPS/Life Skills program develops Huskie student-athletes into positive influences in the community through various programs and its NIU Challenge of Champions, a competition between each of NIU’s 17 sports programs, cheerleaders and Huskie Interns. Many Huskie student-athletes also seek out projects on their own. Kaylee Walters of the women’s track & field team shared her talents with a community halfway around the world, while back home, the men’s golf team dropped their golf clubs and picked up paint brushes to prime and paint at a Habitat for Humanity project house in nearby Elgin, Ill.

In 2008, NIU was recognized nationally for its community service efforts when Matt Simon became the first Huskie selected to the Allstate/AFCA Good Works Team, which recognizes 22 football players in the country for their selfless acts and community participation.

Simon’s “good works” included organizing a group of NIU football players to serve meals at Hope Haven Homeless Shelter, raising money for the American Red Cross Spring 2008 Fund Drive and coordinating a group of NIU football volunteers for the 2008 Special Olympics in Oswego. Simon, one of 11 players from a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team and the only MAC player chosen, was honored at halftime of the 2009 Allstate Sugar Bowl.

Right: Golf’s Matt Triplett (left) and Alex Wagner (right) work together to finish painting one of the rooms at the Habitat for Humanity project house.

Matt Simon and his teammates took the $1,000 they won in NIU’s 2007-08 Challenge of Champions competition and purchased holiday gifts for families at the Hope Haven Shelter.

Above: Members of the NIU football team visited the DeKalb Nursing Home for bingo and an ice cream social on February 27, 2009. Darnell Bolding offers his assistance to one of the residents during a game of bingo.

Above: Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White (sixth from the left) and Jarrett Payton (third from the left), the son of Bears’ legend the late Walter Payton, were joined by a collection of NIU student-athletes as the athletic department announced its partnership with the Secretary of State’s Life Goes On organ and tissue donor program.

Sprinting in SenegalSophomore Kaylee Walters of Lafayette, Ind. and the NIU

women’s track & field team spent her 2009 summer in Saint Louis, Senegal, a town located on the west coast of Africa. While there, she volunteered at a school for underprivileged children, and helped out with a local track team. She also wrote a weekly blog, “Sprinting in Senegal,” for NIUHuskies.com which chronicled her experiences.

Northern Illinois’ women’s basketball program embraced the “Pink Zone” initiative, a global, unified effort of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association to assist in raising breast cancer awareness.

The Huskies conducted a number of events, including a Free Throw-a-Thon and ball auction, leading up to their Pink Zone game versus Toledo. During the game, NIU sported white uniforms trimmed in pink instead of red. Through its efforts, the women’s hoops team raised more than $5,000 for the Kay Yow Foundation. Above: A cancer survivor, NIU head football coach Jerry Kill

joined breast cancer survivors Doris Goff (left) and Ethel Gregory (right) in presenting a pink game ball at the NIU women’s basketball Pink Zone game in February.

School VisitsMore than 100 student-athletes from several NIU teams

traveled to local elementary schools to take part in their Fun Fairs throughout 2008-09. From running games and handing out prizes to collecting tickets and serving food, NIU student-athletes made a positive impact on children in the community.

The men’s soccer team took home top honors in the 2008-09 Northern Illinois Challenge of Champions competition, amassing 3,595 points to edge out the women’s golf team, which earned 3,480 points. From school visits to clinics, the men’s soccer team participated in a variety of events in the DeKalb-Sycamore area throughout the year. However, the Challenge of Champions goes far beyond community service projects. It also includes performance in the classroom, attendance at NIU sporting events, meetings and the Hour of Power seminars.

Above and Right: Kaylee Walters and her track athletes from Senegal get together for a team photo, while she demonstrates the proper stretching technique before the start of practice.

Wins over ranked opponents, outstanding individual achievements and team accomplishments highlighted

the year in competition for Northern Illinois University in 2008-09. The NIU men’s soccer team kicked things off with a thrilling victory over the No. 2 team in the nation in the fall, while the softball team allowed NIU to finish strong, advancing to the semifinals of the 2009 MAC Softball Tournament. In between, Huskie coaches and student-athletes established new marks of excellence.

Men’s SoccerYear-in and year-out, the Northern Illinois men’s soccer

team ranks as one of the top programs in the Mid-American Conference, and 2008 was no exception. The Huskies jumped out to a fast start by going unbeaten through their first eight matches, including a 1-0 double-overtime win over No. 2 SMU, to achieve their best start since 1998. NIU then navigated the MAC portion of its schedule with a 4-1-1 record, finishing second in the regular season standings to mark the fourth time in the last five seasons Northern Illinois men’s soccer has placed first or second in the MAC. At the 2008 MAC Tournament, the Huskies defeated Bowling Green State and Buffalo to advance to the championship game against Akron. The Huskies battled the Zips for 90 minutes, forcing two overtime periods before succumbing to the nation’s No. 4 team, 1-0.

FootballWith the presence of first-round draft pick Larry English at

defensive end, the Northern Illinois University football team boasted the No. 1 defense in the Mid-American Conference. After suffering losses in their first two games, the Huskies went on to win five of their next six, including big wins at Eastern Michigan, against Toledo on Homecoming and in the snow at Kent State. In its first year under Jerry Kill, NIU claimed a 6-6 regular-season mark, earning an invitation to take on local favorite Louisiana Tech in the 2008 Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La.

Aurora native Larry English became the first defensive player, and the fourth player all-time, to win back-to-back Vern Smith Leadership Awards, presented by league coaches to the MAC’s top player. As a senior, English led all active Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) players in career sacks (31.5), sack yardage (220) and tackles for loss yards (283), and ranked

second in tackles for loss (63). Those numbers, along with his incredible athletic ability and work ethic, earned him 2008 MAC Defensive Player of

the Year and 2009 NIU Senior Male Athlete of the Year honors.

In September of 2008, Northern Illinois University began an 18-month, campus-wide effort to study its athletic program as part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I athletics certification process. Certification, which is undertaken by NCAA institutions every 10 years, helps ensure the integrity of the university’s athletics operations according to the operating principles of the NCAA.

During 2008-09, campus and community leaders, faculty members, students, coaches, student-athletes and athletics staff members served on subcommittees which addressed the issues of academic integrity, governance and commitment to rules compliance, and gender, diversity and student-athlete well-being.

The committees conducted a thorough and extensive review of progress made at NIU since the last round of certification and defined plans for the continual improvement of Northern Illinois athletics in these areas. Their reports made up the Northern Illinois Self-Study, which was turned in to the NCAA on May 1, 2009 and can be found on the NIU athletics website at www.niuhuskies.com.

The self-study will then be used by an NCAA peer review team which will visit Northern Illinois in the fall of 2009. The group will complete a report and make a recommendation as to the Huskies’ worthiness for recertification. The NCAA’s decision is expected sometime in early spring of 2010.

The Huskies took full advantage of their second bowl appearance in three years to experience all that Shreveport had to offer. NIU attended a Team Welcome Party complete with traditional Louisiana fare, bowling and pool, enjoyed the Minuteman Luncheon, featuring CBS Sports’ Tim Brando and Spencer Tillman, and made a visit to Barksdale Air Force Base where the Huskies toured a B-52 bomber and some of the other technologically-advanced aircraft of the U.S. Air Force. In the game itself, NIU took an early 7-0 lead on a touchdown pass from Chandler Harnish to Kyle Skarb, and blocked a Bulldog field goal attempt just before halftime to stay within striking distance. While the Huskies came up on the short end of a hard-fought defensive struggle, they walked off the field with their heads held high knowing they laid a solid foundation for the future.

Above: Me’co Brown demonstrates his unique bowling style at the Team Welcome Party during the Huskies’ trip to the 2008 Independence Bowl.

Above and right: During the bowl trip, Huskie seniors paid a visit to LSU’s Children’s Hospital. Greg Turner and Montell Clanton visit with a patient. NIU head coach Jerry Kill and Louisiana Tech head coach Derek Dooley discussed the upcoming game with CBS Sports’ Tim Brando and Spencer Tillman at the Minuteman Luncheon.

Above: “The Pride of the Midwest,” the NIU marching band performed for fans at a pep rally at the Shreveport Convention Center the night before the game.

Left and Above: After the Huskies toured Barksdale Air Force Base, the Huskies posed for a team photo in front of the Stratofortress. DeMarcus Grady is taken aback by the cannon on the nose of an A-10.

Women’s BasketballNorthern Illinois’ 2008-09 campaign was a season filled

with record-setting performances and big wins. With a 15-15 overall record, the Huskies had a strong conference season, going 10-6 in the MAC to post their best league mark since 2001-02. In addition, three Huskies earned conference honors. NIU played in four overtime games and defeated Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan in back-to-back overtime contests. NIU also chased some demons from its past, ending a 10-game losing streak to Ball State, a four-game slide to Ohio and defeating Western Michigan in Kalamazoo for the first time since 1986. Senior Jessie Wilcox reached a personal milestone when she scored her 1,000th career point in her final game.

GymnasticsThe Northern Illinois gymnastics team

continues to be one of the top programs on campus. In 2009, the Huskies tied their best finish at the MAC Championships with a third-place

showing. The Huskies earned nine top-five finishes at the MAC meet, with Jennifer Naughton and Holly Reichard sharing the league crown on the balance beam. For

the ninth time in the last 10 years, NIU sent at least one gymnast to postseason competition as Reichard and Naughton qualified for the NCAA South Central Regional. Reichard competed in the all-around for the second-straight season, while Naughton earned the nod on the balance beam.

Marke Freeman garnered the MAC’s Sixth Man of the Year award after turning in an outstanding 2008-09 campaign. In her first

active season with the Huskies, Freeman led Northern Illinois in assists (99) and steals (39) and was NIU’s second-leading scorer, averaging 9.6 points a game, all

while coming off the bench. The native of Springfield, Ill. led the team in scoring four times, scoring a career-high 19 points in the Huskies’ 85-79 overtime win over UIC.

Jennifer Naughton concluded her career at Northern Illinois in style, earning the 2009 MAC Senior Gymnast of the Year Award to become the first Huskie to win the award since it was created in 1990. Naughton, a native of Smithville, Mo., was the MAC co-champion on the balance beam and an NCAA Regional participant on that apparatus. The top performer in the conference on the beam, Naughton posted a career-high 9.925 at the Illinois Classic to win the state beam title. She collected one more honor before leaving

NIU when she was named the Huskies’ 2009 Senior Female Athlete of the Year.

Holly Reichard backed up her fantastic freshman campaign with a stellar sophomore season, taking the league’s top honor as the MAC Gymnast of the Year and advancing to the NCAA regionals, where she placed eighth in the elite all-around competition. The sophomore from Palatine was the top-ranking gymnast in the league in the all-around with six all-around titles. Reichard was a two-time MAC Gymnast of the Week in 2009 and ranked in the top six in the conference in every individual event.

WrestlingNorthern Illinois has sent a wrestler to the NCAA

Championships every year since 1972 and in 2009, Huskies Tristen DeShazer and Bryan Deutsch continued that streak. At the NCAA’s, the NIU duo combined to score 9.5 points, the most of any team with two qualifiers. On the year, DeShazer set the school’s single-season and career record for pins with 17, including two at NCAAs. NIU also extended another streak when Deutsch captured the title at 157 pounds at the 2009 MAC Championships, marking the 10th straight year NIU had a MAC Champion. Freshman Izzy Montemayor became the first true freshman to record 20 wins since 1997-98, while fellow rookie Steve Zimmerman opened his career with 13 straight victories. Softball

The 2009 campaign saw the Northern Illinois softball team take its first step to returning to prominence in the Mid-American Conference. Behind a solid corps of veteran leaders and a talented freshman pitcher, the Huskies turned in a 12-10 record in MAC play and made a run in the 2009 MAC Softball Tournament. At the tournament, the Huskies suffered a 2-1 setback to Miami (Ohio) in the first round before bouncing back with a 9-4 victory over Bowling Green State, earning NIU a date with No. 2 seed Kent State. Trailing 3-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Huskies rallied to score three runs and post a 4-3 victory over the Golden Flashes, advancing to the semifinals to face the RedHawks once again. Unfortunately the Huskies were unable to avenge its first round loss. While their run at a MAC championship came to an end, Northern Illinois caught a glimpse of its bright future.

Bryan Deutsch won the 2009 MAC title at 157 pounds after entering the league tournament as the sixth seed. Deutsch pinned the No. 1 seed, then beat the No.

3 and No. 2 ranked wrestlers to win the title and a trip to the NCAA Championships.

Jordin Hood Second Team BaseballDarion “Jake” Anderson Second Team M. BasketballJessie Wilcox Third Team W. BasketballEbony Ellis Honorable Mention W. BasketballLarry English First Team FootballMike Salerno Second Team FootballEddie Adamski Third Team FootballJason Onyebuagu Third Team FootballJon Brost Third Team FootballTim McCarthy Third Team FootballJennifer Naughton First Team GymnasticsHolly Reichard First Team GymnasticsDrew Jeskey Second Team M. SoccerBrad Horton Second Team M. SoccerBen Thomas Second Team M. SoccerBailey Ouellette First Team SoftballEmily Gooding First Team SoftballMorgan Bittner Second Team SoftballJurica Grubisic First Team M. TennisJavier Bernabe Second Team M. TennisPawel Poziomski Second Team M. TennisMeagan Schoenrock First Team VolleyballAllison McGlaughlin Second Team VolleyballBryan Deutsch First Team Wrestling

Bailey Ouellette closed out her career at NIU with her second first team All-MAC selection after turning in her best season since her freshman campaign.

In addition to earning second team All-MAC honors, Brad Horton was

named to the second team of College Soccer News

All-Freshmen Team.

As the saying goes, “Everything’s bigger in Texas,” and so were the Huskies’ wins as two of the biggest NIU

victories of 2008-09 came in the Lone Star State. In September, the men’s soccer team defeated then-

No. 2 SMU, 1-0, in overtime when Luis De La Cerda found Brad Horton in front of an open

net 1:52 into the overtime period. In February, the Huskie softball team

posted an equally dramatic victory over a ranked foe when Andrea Colosimo (left) jacked her first career home run, a grand slam, to lead NIU to

a 5-3 victory over then-No. 18 Houston in the Marriott Houston Classic. Colosimo’s

blast over the left field fence capped a five-run sixth inning for NIU.

The most-traveled program at Northern Illinois in 2008-09, the Huskie men’s basketball team competed in 11 states. After starting the season in Georgia, NIU embarked on a 3,535-mile, eight-hour trek to “The Last Frontier” a few weeks later for the Great Alaska Shootout. In addition to Georgia and Alaska, Ricardo Patton’s team competed in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio and Tennessee.

The Huskie baseball team bounced back from a 6-1 setback to No. 8 Arizona State by defeating No. 15 Missouri, 5-2, at the DeMarini Invitational in Tempe, Ariz. last March. With the game tied 2-2 in the sixth inning, NIU took the lead when Jordin Hood scored from third on a groundout by Justin Behm. The Huskies added two more runs in the eighth inning to give

NIU its first victory over a ranked foe since 2001.

Northern Illinois’ football team visited half a dozen states during its 2008 campaign, kicking off the season in the Land of 10,000 Lakes where the Huskies took on Minnesota, and closing out the year in Louisiana with a trip to the 2008 Independence Bowl in Shreveport. In between, the Huskies made stops in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee. In Knoxville, Tenn., Northern Illinois played in front of one of the largest crowds in school history as 99,539 fans saw the Huskies give the Volunteers all they could handle before falling 13-9. NIU wrapped up its 2008 regular season road slate in snowy Kent, Ohio. Unfazed by the adverse weather conditions, the Huskies

defeated the Golden Flashes, 42-14, to become bowl eligible.

From the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast, the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic and all points in between, Northern Illinois University’s 17

athletics teams played a “national schedule,” competing in 27 states last season. In the course of their travels, the Huskies recorded big victories and set personal bests. While the extensive travel schedule tested NIU on the fields of play, it also afforded Huskie student-athletes the opportunity to experience different regions and cultures of the country.

The men’s basketball team gazed at the natural wonders of Alaska during their trip to the Great Alaska Shootout, while their counterparts on the women’s side took in the sights and sounds of Times Square and Broadway when it traveled to the east coast for the Seton Hall Classic. NIU’s spring sports teams headed to warmer climates during a lengthy DeKalb winter, honing their skills in preparation for spring league play.

The men’s basketball team had the opportunity to experience the beauty of Alaska during their trip to the Great Alaska Shootout. The team took time to pose for a photo in Juno with the scenic mountains as a backdrop.

As the saying goes, “Everything’s bigger in Texas,” and so were the Huskies’ wins as two of the biggest NIU

victories of 2008-09 came in the Lone Star State. In September, the men’s soccer team defeated then-

No. 2 SMU, 1-0, in overtime when Luis De La Cerda found Brad Horton in front of an open

net 1:52 into the overtime period. In February, the Huskie softball team

posted an equally dramatic victory over a ranked foe when Andrea Colosimo (left) jacked her first career home run, a grand slam, to lead NIU to

a 5-3 victory over then-No. 18 Houston in the Marriott Houston Classic. Colosimo’s

blast over the left field fence capped a five-run sixth inning for NIU.

The Northern Illinois men’s golf team shot a final round 294 to shoot up three spots on the leaderboard and finish as co-champions of the Davidson

College Invitational in Davidson, N.C. The Huskies entered the final

round down seven strokes and received clutch performances from juniors Andrew

Frame (below) and Tim Kay, who shot 77 and 75, respectively, in the final round.

The men’s golf team competed in nine states last season and was the only NIU team to visit North Carolina.

As part of its trip to New Jersey, the women’s basketball team traveled to New York City to take in “The Lion King” on Broadway. Shari’ Welton, Becky Smith and Bianca Brown pose for a photo in front of a replica of Scar’s costume.

Carol Owens and her team mixed “business” with pleasure when the NIU women’s basketball team traveled east to play in the Seton Hall Classic in South Orange, N.J. On the court, NIU defeated Wagner, 70-56, with sophomore Ebony Ellis (right) leading the way with a career-high 22 rebounds en route to a double-double. The 6-3 center finished the game with 12 points, and scored 25 points and grabbed 28 rebounds in the two-day tourney to earn a spot on the all-tournament team.

Before the start of the tournament, the Huskies experienced the Big Apple, taking in dinner and a Broadway

show. Northern Illinois returned to New York in February to face MAC East opponent Buffalo, defeating the Bulls, 65-54.

Northern Illinois’ football team visited half a dozen states during its 2008 campaign, kicking off the season in the Land of 10,000 Lakes where the Huskies took on Minnesota, and closing out the year in Louisiana with a trip to the 2008 Independence Bowl in Shreveport. In between, the Huskies made stops in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee. In Knoxville, Tenn., Northern Illinois played in front of one of the largest crowds in school history as 99,539 fans saw the Huskies give the Volunteers all they could handle before falling 13-9. NIU wrapped up its 2008 regular season road slate in snowy Kent, Ohio. Unfazed by the adverse weather conditions, the Huskies

defeated the Golden Flashes, 42-14, to become bowl eligible.

With 11 trips to the Hoosier state, Indiana was one of the most frequent stops for the Huskies last year, trailing Ohio by just one.

The women’s tennis team made two trips to our neighboring state, both times to Muncie as they played in the Ball State Invitational in the fall and

defeated the Cardinals, 4-3, in the spring.

On what would be one of the biggest days of his life, Larry English joined his 2008 Huskie teammates one last time. Northern Illinois University’s

standout defensive end and two-time MAC Vern Smith Leadership Award winner returned to DeKalb to attend NIU’s 2009 Spring Football Preview just hours before the start of the 2009 National Football League Draft.

He met with the media, answering questions with the same poise and confidence he displayed during his career at NIU, then took in the Huskies’ final spring practice of 2009. After a rainstorm cut practice short, English and his teammates adjourned to the McCareins Auditorium in the Yordon Center for the presentation of their 2008 Independence Bowl rings. English received his ring, delivered an emotional speech to his teammates and coaches, and departed for his parents’ home in Aurora to watch the draft with his family and friends.

Like a lightning bolt, the moment he had been waiting for came suddenly. With the 16th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the San Diego Chargers called the Huskie senior’s name. English, no stranger to making history during his illustrious career at Northern Illinois, added one more notation to the Huskie record books by becoming the highest draft pick in NIU history.

The Chargers’ brass introduced English to the San Diego media the next day after selecting him with the 16th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

English was front and center as members of the 2008 NIU football team assembled one last time to receive their Independence Bowl rings.

On draft day, English met with the media prior to the Huskies’ final spring practice.

As a senior, English led all active NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) players in career sacks, sack yardage and tackles for loss yards.

Larry English, the 2008 MAC Defensive Player of the Year and arguably the top defender in school history, became the highest draft choice ever at NIU.

“Inside Huskie Sports,” a weekly television show covering Northern Illinois sports, airs throughout the region on Comcast SportsNet Chicago. Last year, “IHS” had a special taping at Stevenson Dining Hall on the NIU campus.

The success the Northern Illinois football program has enjoyed on the field in the last decade has translated into increased national coverage. The NIU football team made six of its 11

television appearances last season on the ESPN

family of networks, headlined by ESPN’s presentation of the 2008 Independence Bowl. NIU has appeared on an ESPN broadcast 37 times, with 14 over the past three seasons.

Fans and media across the country are just a click away from the latest news, schedules, statistics and features on all 17 Northern Illinois University sports programs when they log on to the No. 1 source for Huskie Athletics news, NIUHuskies.com.

NIU’s daily blog “Huskie Happenings,” was introduced last spring and provides video features, links to stories on NIU Athletics from news outlets across the country, photos and the latest marketing and promotional information.

When the Huskies earned a bid to play in the 2008 Independence Bowl, NIUHuskies.com provided coverage through player blogs, podcasts and photo galleries, helping fans feel like they were in Shreveport. With features like GameTracker and Huskies All-Access, fans anywhere in the world stay updated on their favorite Northern Illinois teams without leaving their computers. No other site in the country covers NIU Athletics like NIUHuskies.com.

Playing a national schedule has translated into national exposure for Northern Illinois University. Through television,

radio, print and Internet media, NIU Athletics continues to garner national attention. Eleven Huskie football games were televised in 2008, including four nationally, while the men’s and women’s basketball teams each earned broadcast opportunities.

Northern Illinois University continues to take advantage of its proximity to Chicago. In July, NIU, through its new multi-media partner, ISP Sports, extended its agreements with both WSCR 670 AM The Score and Comcast SportsNet Chicago, ensuring the Huskies’ presence in the third-largest market in the country.

The Score, a powerful 50,000-watt station, reaches as far as 38 states, while CSN Chicago’s coverage area includes millions of homes in Illinois, Iowa, northwestern Indiana and southern Wisconsin. The Score carries Huskie football and men’s basketball games as well as the weekly 30-minute “NIU Live” radio show, while Comcast SportsNet airs select football games and the weekly “Inside Huskie Sports” program. The accomplishments of Huskie student-athletes, on and off the field, continue to appear in The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and Daily Herald on a regular basis.

From first-year men’s soccer coach Eric Luzzi to Pam Tyska, who has led the NIU women’s golf

team for 23 years, Huskie student-athletes thrive under the tutelage of some of the best coaches in the nation. Northern Illinois coaches are leaders in their profession whose efforts are central to NIU’s mission of developing champions. With the addition of three new head coaches to the Huskie Athletics family for 2009-10, NIU continues to provide its student-athletes with the type of leadership they deserve.

NIU women’s basketball coach Carol Owens (2005-present) captured her fourth-straight gold medal after leading USA’s Basketball’s U19 National Team to victory in the championship game of the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship for Women in Bangkok, Thailand. Prior to that trip, Owens was honored as USA Basketball’s 2008 Developmental Coach of the Year.

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Northern Illinois’ football coach Jerry Kill (2008-present) made a lasting one on the Huskie faithful in his first season at NIU, leading the Huskies to a 6-6 regular season record and a trip to the Independence Bowl. Kill also coached the highest draft pick in NIU history, Larry English. Not bad for a first impression.

Mark Sontag (2000-present) has sent a gymnast to the NCAA Regionals in

nine of his 10 years at NIU, including last season when Holly Reichard

and Jennifer Naughton represented the Huskies

at the South Central Regional. Sontag coached Reichard and Naughton to

MAC Gymnast and Senior Gymnast of the Year honors,

respectively, last year.

Ed Mathey (2003-present) is NIU baseball’s all-time coaching victory leader with 186 wins and has produced the four winningest teams in school history.

The 2008 Huskies jumped out to their best start in school history (5-1-3) in their first season under head coach Carrie Barker (2008-present).

The NIU record book is stuffed with athletes who have competed under coach Connie Teaberry (2004-present), as 30 school records have been broken by her athletes since her arrival.

Dave Grant (1996-present)has sent a wrestler to the NCAA Championships in each of his 13 seasons, maintaining the school’s streak of 38 straight years with a NCAA qualifier.

A victory over a ranked opponent, a seven-win improvement, the first winning record in conference play since 2003 and a run in the 2009 MAC Softball Tournament highlighted Lindsay Chouinard’s second season at the helm of the Huskie softball program. Northern Illinois defeated then-No. 15 Houston, 5-3, in February, and capped off its season by advancing to the semifinals of the conference tournament.

Northern Illinois’ new men’s soccer coach is a familiar face. Eric Luzzi, who spent the last three seasons as NIU’s top assistant, was promoted from associate head coach to head coach in July. Since his arrival at NIU in 2006, Luzzi’s expertise has been paying dividends.

Under Luzzi’s guidance, Huskie goalkeeper Joe Zimka set an NCAA record for goals allowed average in 2006. The Huskies set the NIU record for shutouts in a season en route to the 2006 MAC regular season and tournament championships and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Pam Tyska (1986-present) has led NIU to 103 top-five finishes during her 23-year career at NIU, the longest tenure of any Huskie head coach.

Ryun Ferrell (2006-present) has brought his own brand of energy and enthusiasm to the Huskie women’s tennis program in his three years at NIU.

Two Huskie head coaches achieved career milestones last season. NIU men’s basketball coach Ricardo Patton (2007-present) notched

his 200th career win in dramatic fashion. In the Huskies’ final home game of the season, he led NIU to a 56-55 over MAC West regular-season champion Ball State. Leading by one

point with 8.7 seconds left, the Huskies came up with a defensive stop when they needed it most to secure the victory.

Volleyball coach Ray Gooden (2002-present) recorded his 100th career victory as a Division I head coach in 2008 with a 3-0 sweep

of Western Illinois on Sept. 9, 2008. Gooden entered the 2009 season with 115

wins in seven years at NIU to rank third on the volleyball win list.

NIU men’s golf coach Tom Porten’s third head coaching assignment is his second in the Mid-American Conference. The head coach at Akron in 2006-07, who

also spent a year as associate head coach for MAC golf powerhouse Kent State, Porten brings familiarity

with the league to the men’s golf program. In addition, he spent 15 years at Cleveland State University as the head coach of the men’s and women’s programs.

New men’s tennis coach Patrick F i s h e r , who most recently served as the top assistant at Brigham Young University, brings six years of NCAA Division I coaching experience to NIU, including a season in the MAC. He began his career as an assistant coach at Western Michigan, helping lead the Broncos to the 2004 MAC Championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships.

What a great time to be a Huskie! Maybe you have heard that phrase before during your association with Northern Illinois

University. Whether you have or not, let it resonate proudly with you today. Specifically, your role as a stakeholder in Huskie Athletics is part of what makes it a great time to be on the Northern Illinois “team.”

In 2008, because of loyal NIU supporters like you, the Huskie Athletic Scholarship Fund posted its second consecutive record-breaking year with almost 1,400 donors contributing over $1.24 million during the annual fund drive. For the second consecutive year and only the second time in NIU history, annual support for athletics exceeded the $1 million mark.

Thanks to increased support for Northern Illinois student-athletes through the HASF, NIU sport programs received operating budget increases for the first time since 1992. In the last two years, the increases have doubled, and a successful 2009 HASF drive has Northern Illinois on pace to distribute even more dollars to our 17 athletic teams.

Fourteen NIU sport programs have received a new facility or significant facility upgrade since 2002, totaling over $63 million in enhancements, from both private and institutional dollars. Last year marked the inaugural season for the Northern Illinois University Soccer and Track & Field Complex, the Gymnastics Floor Exercise Room and the Huskie Wrestling Training Center. These three new venues join NIU’s cornerstone facilities; the Yordon Center and the Convocation Center.

We hope you are proud of these accomplishments as each of you has played a role in making our goals a reality. On behalf of our 477 talented student-athletes and coaches, we offer a resounding “Thank You!”

NIU quarterback Chandler Harnish and Audrey Holmer of the women’s soccer team were a few of the Huskie student-athletes and head coaches that addressed a crowd of over 400 loyal HASF supporters and prospective members at the second annual HASF Kickoff in January.

The Huskie Tailgate Showdown is quickly becoming a spring football tradition. For the third straight year, amateur and professional cooks from throughout the area converged to determine the best Huskie tailgate team. This year, 18 teams, double the number from 2008, competed in several different categories with all proceeds benefitting the HASF. From burgers to brats, to specialty dishes like the “Victor E. Tacos,” there was something for every palate at the 2009 Huskie Tailgate Showdown. NIU President Dr. John Peters (above right) was on hand to sample some of the great food and visit with Huskie supporters.

One key component of the HASF’s rapid growth is the continued development and revitalization of the Varsity Club, the official organization for former student-athletes, managers, trainers

and coaches at Northern Illinois University. It is truly important to Northern Illinois to reconnect with

former Huskie student-athletes who have meant, and still mean, so much to our program.

Any former student-athlete who supports the HASF at ANY level is automatically a member of both the HASF and the Varsity Club. In addition to receiving HASF benefits that correspond with your donation level, you will receive all the benefits of Varsity Club membership, which include invitations to special events, a chance to reconnect with former teammates and coaches, and discounted football season tickets.

During the month of May, NIU coaches and athletic staff hit the road for the annual Huskie Spring Caravans. The Caravans provide an outstanding opportunity for Huskie supporters to meet NIU coaches, like Ricardo Patton, Jerry Kill and Carol Owens, as well as NIU administrators, in a fun, casual setting. In 2009, Northern Illinois alumni, fans and supporters met various Huskie coaches, at gatherings in Chicago, St. Charles, Rockford and DeKalb/Sycamore. Last year’s Caravans saw a record turnout of Huskie supporters at every stop, with more than 150 Huskie supporters attending the Huskie Caravan in Chicago. NIU fans gathered at Goose Island Brewery after watching the Cubs defeat the Padres at sun-splashed Wrigley Field.

In July, more than 100 women turned out for “Football 101,” the HASF’s inaugural football clinic for women, led by NIU head football coach Jerry Kill. Following wine and appetizers, the women were given a crash course on the basics of football by Kill and members of the Huskie football team. They were given a tour of the Yordon Center, then went out to Brigham Field (below) to apply what they had learned.

Before and After. Left: The base and drainage system of the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex is laid in place. Right: With the track down and lined, NIU’s newest facility is complete and ready for competition.

The wall outside the McCareins Auditorium in the atrium of the Yordon Center is a constant reminder of what can be achieved through hard work and dedication.

From the Jeffrey and Kimberly Yordon Center to the palatial Convocation Center, Northern

Illinois University student-athletes play, practice and train at some of the finest facilities in the country. Last year, NIU added yet another first-class venue with the completion of the Northern Illinois University Soccer and Track & Field Complex, while newly-refurbished facilities for gymnastics, wrestling and football give Huskie coaches and student-athletes all the tools necessary to succeed.

Huskie student-athletes have been reaping the benefits of the Yordon Center since it opened in August of 2007. From the Frances and George Wilkins Academic Support Center to the 12,500-square foot strength and conditioning center, the state-of-the-art athletic training

room to the equipment room, the Huskies want for nothing. Additions and improvements continue to be made to the two-year old building. On the wall outside the McCareins Auditorium are photos of recent Huskies who have advanced to the NFL, fueling the aspirations of current players. On the opposite end of the wall, every NIU football player that has played in the NFL is listed under the team helmet.

From the Yordon Center, the latest improvement to Huskie Stadium is evident. At the conclusion of 2009 spring practice, the old FieldTurf surface, which was installed in 2001, was ripped up. Less than a month later, new FieldTurf was in place.

The Northern Illinois University Soccer and Track & Field Complex, the latest and greatest athletic facility on the campus of Northern Illinois University, features the highest quality artificial soccer surface available today surrounded by an eight-lane track. From the herringbone channel drainage system to a “sandwich system” that layers two synthetic materials to comprise the new track surface, the complex is designed to handle everything Mother Nature has to offer. The Huskie women’s soccer team opened the facility in style with a 1-0 victory over Eastern Illinois on August 29, 2008. In May, the NIU women’s track & field team held its first true “home” meet since 1982 when the Huskies played host to Augustana in a dual meet. While the team set one school record and won 15 events, the day will be remembered more for ribbon-cutting than running as the team turned a corner into a new era.

Located in Sugar Grove, Ill., Rich Harvest Farms is the home of Huskie golf. Not only do NIU golfers have access to a world-class golf course, but outstanding training facilities as well. Just beyond the green of Gold No. 9 at Rich Harvest Farms is Harvest Lodge, which houses an incredible indoor practice facility. After taking their swings at The Course (below left), Huskie golfers can walk over to the indoor practice green (below right). From chipping to putting, the practice green allows Huskie golfers to work on every aspect of their short game no matter the weather.

The construction of the 62,000-square foot Jeffrey & Kimberly Yordon Center opened space inside the West Stands of Huskie Stadium, home of the NIU wrestling and gymnastics teams. The new Gymnastics Room, which supplements the previous practice area, gives the Huskies nearly three times more space than before and is filled with new equipment, including multiple bars sets and balance beams. Huskie Wrestling finally has a home to call its own with the completion of the NIU Wrestling Room. At more than 6,000 square feet, the spacious area easily accommodates the entire team, with enough room for warm-ups, drills and intrasquad competitions. The room includes brand new floor and wall mats and a cardiovascular training area.

When the two programs are ready to show off the skills they’ve fine-tuned in their new training areas, they head to the Convocation Center. Gymnastics and wrestling meets are held in either the “main bowl” of the Convo or in the adjacent and cozy Victor E. Court. Three other NIU athletic programs call the Convocation Center home. In the fall, the volleyball team thrills fans and enjoys the home court advantage of Victor E. Court, while the men’s and women’s basketball teams play in one of the finest facilities in the MAC. The seven-year old, 9,100-seat arena also features spacious locker rooms for teams and amenities for fans.

Huskie golfers have access to a world-class golf course and state-of-the-art training tools at Rich Harvest Farms, including a high definition golf simulator. From punching it out of a bunker, sinking a long putt or making a “gimme,” the putting green at Harvest Lodge provides every challenge imaginable.

one of the many high-impact changes in the athletic department this year has been the increased focus on season and group ticket

sales by NIU’s athletic marketing and sales staff. A primary component of the ticket sales emphasis has been on specific brand awareness initiatives, including aggressive advertising on local cable, in movie theaters and on billboards. Signs and posters were distributed throughout the community, and neighborhood door tags and fliers spread the word about Huskie Athletics.

In addition, Northern Illinois aggressively pursued student support for its sports teams through face-to-face, in-person contact – from Jerry Kill delivering chocolates and flowers to fraternities and sororities, respectively, last spring – to team-sponsored picnics with groups of students and the men’s and women’s basketball teams. Huskie staffers attended floor meetings in dormitories, spoke to organizations and were present at every orientation session over the summer.

Northern Illinois’ corporate sponsorship program went through a transition year in 2008-09 as the Huskies actively searched for a marketing partner to manage that portion of its operation. In the spring, NIU Athletics as well as the school’s Finance and Facilities Operations division, entered into a partnership with ISP Sports to market a variety of corporate sponsorship opportunities. Northern Illinois is looking forward to developing this relationship with the country’s foremost collegiate sports marketing company in 2009-10.

All of the initiatives were designed to give Northern Illinois’ current and prospective fans an opportunity to truly “Experience It Live!”

Driving past the Convocation Center during the winter, it was almost impossible not to know it was basketball season in DeKalb. Two giant banners graced the outside of the Convo, promoting the NIU men’s and women’s basketball teams. The left banner featured the four women’s basketball seniors, while the one on the right pictured Darion “Jake” Anderson, the 2008 MAC Freshman of the Year.

Northern Illinois Athletics has enjoyed a successful relationship with its official outfitter, adidas, for the

last four years. So much so that NIU and adidas inked a deal that will extend that partnership

through 2013.

NIU’s marketing department conducts several exciting promotions during Huskie athletic events throughout the year. Many are as simple as answering trivia questions at a basketball game, while others are a bit more challenging. Last year, Allstate awarded one lucky fan $1,000 for making a field goal at halftime of an NIU football game.

Nothing brings the Northern Illinois University community together like a football game at Huskie Stadium. A packed house banging Thunderstix cheers the Huskies on every play, the band plays and cheerleaders yell, all helping create an atmosphere unmatched in the Mid-American Conference.

When winter ends and the weather breaks, fans flock to Ralph McKinzie Field to catch some Huskie baseball, or to Mary M. Bell Field for exciting softball action. The centerfield berm at Mary M. Bell Field is a popular spot for fans to congregate and cheer on NIU.

Even after giving their all in competition, Huskie student-athletes always have time to greet their fans. Left, Tanya Rachan signs an autograph for a young gymnast.

Huskie Stadium is abuzz with activity on a football game day hours before the Huskies take the field. The faint sounds of “The

Pride of the Midwest,” the Northern Illinois University marching band, emanate from inside the stadium and signal to the early tailgaters that there is no better place to be on game day than DeKalb, Illinois. As the fans begin to file into the stadium, they watch the Huskies go through their pregame routine, anticipation mounting. NIU’s cheerleaders and dance team, The Silverettes, add to an already exciting atmosphere. Fans cheer from the opening kickoff to the final whistle, inspiring the Huskies on to victory.

On the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex the men’s and women’s soccer programs thrill crowds with remarkable saves and daring scoring opportunities. At Victor E. Court inside the Convocation Center, the Huskie volleyball team’s fast-paced style of play keeps fans on the edges of their seats with every serve.

The Huskie wrestling, gymnastics and men’s and women’s basketball programs heat up the “Convo” during DeKalb’s cold winter months. While enjoying a Saturday afternoon of hoops, admiring the precision and grace of the women’s gymnastics team, or the toughness and endurance of a Huskie wrestler, fans hold their breath with every last-second shot or perfect dismount. No matter what sport, event or opponent, excitement can be found at Northern Illinois on any given game day.

After every score, Diesel, NIU’s live mascot, streaks across the endzone in celebration.