Never in my entire life had I heard of a head coach leaving before a bowl game and bringing both his offensive AND defensive coordinators with him in Matt Limegrover and Tracy Claeys respectively. I asked the question on twitter if this had ever happened and didn't get a response, so I'll stick with the assumption this is the first time. Heck, I just had learned how to spell Claeys' name correctly and now he's gone. C'est la vie. And don't expect to be on any head coaching candidate lists by ditching a team like this.
Interim Head Coach Tom Matukewicz
Huskie Wire | From the "Tuke" files, Vol. 1
"He just comes up with stuff off the top of the head," Schiller said. "Him and (wide receivers) coach (P.J.) Fleck are probably the craziest guys out there."
Huskie Wire | VIEWS: Matukewicz auditions for big office
"I like my office," the NIU interim head coach said Tuesday. "That office down there, it'll stay vacant until (NIU athletic director) Jeff (Compher) fills it."
Huskie Wire | From the "Tuke" files, Vol. II
Daily Chronicle: What's it like playing for coach Tom Matukewicz?
Alex Kube: Awesome. Coach Tuke, if you come out here mellow, he'll make sure you'll get fired up. He's the real deal I like him a lot.
Huskie Wire | Huskies get back to work
"I’ll be listening on a headset that goes both ways. Me and the staff have met. What we’re going to do is we’re going to agree on the game plan," Matukewicz said. "We’re going to agree that Rob and Jay call it and we’re going to agree that I’ve got [the] veto, and when I say I want to do something, they’re completely good with that."
| Year | School | Postseason | Reponsibilities |
| 2008- | Northern Illinois | International Bowl (2009) | Linebackers |
| Independence Bowl (2008) | |||
| 2001-07 | Southern Illinois | FCS Playoffs (2003-07) | Linebackers/Run Game Coord. |
| 2000-01 | Emporia State |
Defensive Line |
|
| 1999-00 | Coffeyville C.C. |
Offensive Line/Tight Ends |
|
| 1997-99 | Pittsburg State |
Offensive Tackles/Tight Ends |
|
| 1996-97 | Fort Hays State | Defensive Line/Special Teams |
Interim OC/RBs Rob Reeves
| Year | School | Postseason | Reponsibilities |
| 2008- | Northern Illinois | International Bowl (2009) | Running Backs |
| Independence Bowl (2008) | |||
| 2001-07 | Southern Illinois | FCS Playoffs (2003-07) | Running Backs |
| 1998-00 | Emporia State |
Running Backs |
|
| 1996-98 | Saginaw Valley State |
Offensive G.A./Quarterbacks |
Interim DC/Safeties, Jay Sawvel
| Year | School | Postseason | Reponsibilities |
| 2008- | Northern Illinois | International Bowl (2009) | DBs/Special Teams |
| Independence Bowl (2008) | |||
| 2001-07 | Southern Illinois | FCS Playoffs (2003-07) | DBs/Special Teams |
| 1999-00 | Ferris State |
DBs/Special Teams |
|
| 1996-99 | Notre Dame |
Gator Bowl (1998) Independence Bowl (1997) |
Grad. Assistant |
| 1994-95 | Eastern Kentucky |
FCS Playoffs (1995) | Grad. Assistant |
So, who replaces all three of these guys at their respective positions?
Huskie Wire | Reeves, Sawvel to serve as coordinators for bowl
Huskies Work Out; Coaching Staff Set - Northern Illinois Official Athletic Site
With Sawvel focusing on the defensive gameplan, former player Melvin Rice will focus on coaching the CBs for the bowl game.
Another GA in Joe Tripodi will be coaching the offensive line, now that Limegrover has gone to sweeter pastures. Some guy named Billy Glasscock (yes, that's his real name) will be assisting with the big uglies up front as well.
More former players in Matt Simon (Special Teams) and Alex Krutsch (Defensive Line) will come in and assist at their respective positions.
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