Northern Illinois Huskies

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Northern Illinois Huskies
Northern Illinois Huskies logo.svg
University Northern Illinois University
Conference Mid-American Conference
Missouri Valley Conference (men's soccer)
NCAA Division I (FBS)
Athletic director Sean Frazier
Location DeKalb, Illinois
Varsity teams17 (7 men’s, 10 women’s)
Football stadium Huskie Stadium
Basketball arena NIU Convocation Center
Baseball stadium Ralph McKinzie Field
Softball stadiumMary M. Bell Field
Soccer stadium NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex
Other venuesHuskie Tennis Courts
North 40 Cross Country Course
Rich Harvest Farms
Soldier Field
Victor E. Court
MascotVictor E. Huskie (Costume) [lower-alpha 1] [2] Mission Huskie (Live mascot) [3]
Nickname Huskies
Fight song"Huskie Fight Song" [4]
ColorsCardinal and black [5]
   
Website www.niuhuskies.com
Northern Illinois Huskies wordmark.svg

The Northern Illinois Huskies are the athletic teams that represent Northern Illinois University (NIU). The Huskies are a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The athletic program is made up of seven men's sports (baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, tennis, and wrestling) and 10 women's sports (basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, tennis, track, and volleyball). The football team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).

Contents

NIU began athletic competition in 1899 and were nicknamed the Profs. In the 1920s, they were referred to as the Cardinals. During the 1930s they were called Evansmen after George Evans. The Huskie mascot and nickname used today were officially chosen in 1940.

Sports sponsored

A member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC), NIU sponsors teams in seven men's and ten women's NCAA sanctioned sports. [6]

Men's sportsWomen's sports
Baseball Basketball
Basketball Cross country
Football Golf
Golf Gymnastics
Soccer Soccer
Tennis Softball
Wrestling Tennis
Track and field
Volleyball
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor.
MAC logo in NIU colors MAC logo in Northern Illinois colors.svg
MAC logo in NIU colors

Baseball

NIU baseball started playing in 1900. The program was disbanded from 1983 through 1990. They currently play home games at the Ralph McKinzie Field in Dekalb, Illinois. They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament twice (1972, 1996).

Championships

Men's basketball

NIU men's basketball started playing in 1900. They currently play home games at the NIU Convocation Center in DeKalb, Illinois. They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament three times (1982, 1991, 1996).

Championships

Football

NIU football started playing in 1899. They have won one National Championship, have won 12 football conference titles, and have appeared in 16 Division I-A and College Division Bowl Games.

Championships

Men's golf

NIU men's golf team currently plays its home matches at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois where it hosted the 2017 NCAA Men's Golf Championship. The team has won the Mid-American Conference Golf title in 1976, 1985, and 2023. The Huskies also qualified for the 1976 NCAA Golf tournament.

Championships

Men's soccer

NIU men's soccer started playing in 1962. They currently play their home games at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex. They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament four times (1973, 2006, 2011, 2021).

With the MAC discontinuing its men's soccer league after the 2022 season, NIU moved that sport to the Missouri Valley Conference for 2023 and beyond.

Championships

Men's tennis

NIU men's tennis team has had six players qualify for the NCAA tournament, one player twice and another player three times (1963, 1968, 1970–1973, 1987). They currently play their home matches at the NIU West Tennis Courts.

Championships

Wrestling

NIU Wrestling started in 1931, and first started competing in the Division I (NCAA) in 1969. The team had 9 NCAA All-Americans & 96 wrestlers qualify for the NCAA tournament, with two winning the NCAA title. Three other Huskie Wrestlers won the NAIA championship (1958 (@123), 1961 (@167), 1961 (@177))

Ryan Ludwig (three-time NAIA All-American and a national finalist at 157 pounds) is currently in his 3rd season as head coach for the Huskies. [7] Completed in the fall of 2008, the NIU Wrestling Training Complex features everything a student-athlete needs to reach the highest levels on and off the mat. [8]

Championships

Softball

NIU women's softball started playing in 1959. They currently play their home games at Mary M. Bell Field. They have made two NCAA Regional appearances (1988, 1996) and one appearance in the Women's College World Series (1988).

Championships

Women's basketball

NIU women's basketball started playing in 1957. They currently play home games at the NIU Convocation Center in Dekalb, Illinois. They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament five times (1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995). They have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) two times (1991, 2017).

Championships

Women's soccer

NIU women's soccer started playing in 1993. They currently play their home games at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex.

Championships

Women's volleyball

NIU women's volleyball started playing in 1970. They currently play home games at the NIU Convocation Center in Dekalb, Illinois. They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament seven times (1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2011, 2016). They appeared in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) three times (1991, 1992, 1994).

Championships

Women's tennis

NIU women's tennis team started playing in 1974. They currently play their home matches at the NIU West Tennis Courts.

Championships

Women's gymnastics

NIU women's gymnastics started competing in 1978. They currently compete at the NIU Convocation Center in Dekalb, Illinois.

Championships

Women's golf

NIU women's golf team currently plays its home matches at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois where it hosted the 2017 NCAA Women's Golf Championship.

Women's track and field

NIU women's outdoor track and field team currently competes at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex. The women's indoor track and field team competes at NIU Convocation Center.

Women's cross country

NIU women's cross country team first competed for one year in 1981. The program was reinstated in 1995.

National championships

Team

SportAssociationDivisionYearOpponent/Runner-upScore
Men's cross country (1) NCAA College 1958 South Dakota State 90–93 (-3)

Club sports

Hockey

NIU Hockey was founded in 1965. The Huskies play college ice hockey in the Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA) conference of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), ACHA Division 2 and ACHA Division 3. NIU was an ACHA D2 Regional Qualifier in 2013 and won three consecutive MACHA Bronze Division Championships, from the 2014-15 season through the 2016-17 season.

Championships

Rugby

NIU Rugby Football was founded in 1968 and plays college rugby in the Mid-American Conference of Division 1-AA. The Huskies are led by Head Coach Kris Osterloh. [9] The Huskies reached the 2013 D1-AA national playoffs, but lost to Lindenwood in the round of 16.

Cheerleading

NIU Cheerleading consists of two teams, All Girl and Large Coed. Both teams perform at football games, basketball games, and at the NCA College Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida. In 2016, both teams made it to finals with the All-Girl team Finishing in 5th while the Large Coed team place 6th in the D1A Division.

2016

All Girl: 5th

Large Coed: 6th

2015

Large Coed: 5th

NIU Athletics Hall of Fame

The NIU Athletics Hall of Fame first started in 1978. There has been an annual class induction since 1983. Women were inducted starting in 1986. There are currently 207 individuals and 17 teams enshrined in the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame. [10]

Mascot

The NIU Huskies are represented by both Victor E. Huskie (a person wearing a Siberian Husky costume) and Mission (a live Siberian Husky). [1] [11] The Mission program establishing a series of live dogs as mascots was started by the NIU Foundation in 2012. [12] As of 2023, three dogs (Mission I, Mission II, and Mission III) have served in this role. Mission III was introduced in 2023. [13]

Notes

  1. NIU uses the spelling "Huskie" instead of "Husky", even in singular form. [1]

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The 2008 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by first-year head coach Jerry Kill, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 6–7 with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, placing fourth in the MAC's West Division. Northern Illinois was invited to the Independence Bowl, where they lost to Louisiana Tech. The team played home games at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Illinois.

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The 2004 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by ninth-year head coach Joe Novak, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 9–3 with a mark of 7–1 in conference play, sharing the MAC's West Division title with Toledo. By virtue of their head-to-head win Northern Illinois, Toledo Rockets advanced to the MAC Championship Game. Northern Illinois was invited to the Silicon Valley Football Classic, where they beat Troy. The team played home games at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Illinois.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Northern Illinois Huskies football team</span> American college football season

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The Northern Illinois Huskies wrestling team represents Northern Illinois University (NIU) in DeKalb, Illinois. NIU wrestling started competing in 1931 and currently competes in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). NIU wrestling has produced two NCAA Champions, three NAIA Champions, and currently holds a 51-year streak (1972–present) of sending at least one NCAA qualifier to the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. The Huskies are coached by Ryan Ludwig.

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The 2018 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by Rod Carey in his sixth and final season as head coach, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 8–6 with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, winning the MAC's West Division title. Northern Illinois advanced to the MAC Championship Game, where they defeated East Division champion Buffalo to win the program's fifth MAC championship. The Huskies were invited to the Boca Raton Bowl, where they lost to UAB. The team played home games at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Illinois.

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The 2021 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by third-year head coach Thomas Hammock, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 9–5 with a mark of 6–2 in conference playing, sharing the MAC's West Division title with Central Michigan. By virtue of a head-to-head win over Central Michigan, Northern Illinois advanced to the MAC Championship Game and defeated Kent State to win the program's six MAC championship. The Huskies invited to the Cure Bowl, where they lost to Coastal Carolina on December 17. The team played home games at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Northern Illinois Huskies football team</span> American college football season

The 2022 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Huskies were led by fourth-year head coach Thomas Hammock and played home games at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Illinois.

References

  1. 1 2 "NIU Athletics Traditions". NIU Athletics. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  2. iPhoto. "Gallery Dogs: 68 of 73". mascots.com.
  3. "Official NIU Mascot". myniu.com.
  4. "NIU Athletics Traditions - NIU Huskie Music". NIU Athletics.
  5. "NIU Athletic Marks Standards Guide" (PDF). July 12, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  6. "NIU Athletics Traditions - Note: singular collective form". NIU Athletics.
  7. "NIU Wrestling". Northern Illinois University Athletics.
  8. "NIU Wrestling Informational Facts". Northern Illinois University Athletics.
  9. NIU Rugby, Officers, http://niurugby.wordpress.com/officers-2/
  10. NIU Athletics Hall of Fame Roster
  11. "NIU - STEAM". NIU - STEAM. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  12. "NIU introduces new Huskie mascot, Mission III". 94.9 WDKB. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  13. "NIU Alumni Association". www.myniu.com. Retrieved 3 June 2024.