May 16, 2002

HALL OF FAME NORTHERN ILLINOIS MEN’S GOLF COACH JACK PHEANIS ‘RETIRES’ AFTER 46 YEARS

DeKALB, IL --- The person with the longest coaching tenure in the history of Northern Illinois University Intercollegiate Athletics---veteran head men’s golf coach Jack Pheanis---will retire from that position to become the school’s director of special projects and golf coach emeritus.

The joint announcement was made by NIU athletics director Cary Groth and Pheanis Thursday (May 16). A national search for Pheanis’ successor will begin immediately.

The “retirement” ends a 46-year run on the Huskie coaching staff for Pheanis---including 37 seasons as head golf coach. Add three varsity Northern Illinois letters in football during 1950-52 and Pheanis has served his beloved alma mater for 49 years. He also was an assistant in football, men’s basketball, and men’s swimming.

In his new role, Pheanis (FEE-niss) will serve as an ambassador for the NIU athletics program. The 73-year-old Chicago Heights native will continue working with the highly successful Huskie Pro-Am fund-raiser and the Hole-in-One Club group that supports men’s golf. In addition, he will be the tournament director for the 2003 Mid-American Conference Championships played at Jerry Rich’s Harvest Farms 18-hole private course in Sugar Grove, IL.

“It was time,” Pheanis said. “You know, it sounds selfish. But I love this job so much and it was difficult to give it up. Cary made an offer that was pretty interesting and one that I couldn’t refuse. It’s time to allow someone else enjoy this wonderful experience that I’ve had. I’ve enjoyed every minute at Northern Illinois. I transferred here in 1950 from Illinois and I immediately fell in love with the campus, the teachers, and the whole place. That NIU magic hit me back in 1950.”

The description---being “…All-Northern Illinois from head to toe”---fits Pheanis perfectly.

No individual in the school’s history has been enshrined into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame four times. He was inducted as an individual in 1988 and then as part of three of the greatest teams in Huskie lore---(1) as head coach of the 1976 men’s golf team that won the school’s first MAC title and qualified for the National Collegiate Athletic Association Championships in 1997, (2) as offensive backfield coach under legendary coach Howard Fletcher on the1963 NCAA College Division National Championship football team that finished 10-0-0 and featured Little All-America quarterback George Bork in 1986, and (3) as starting fullback on the 1951 Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title team that went 9-0-0 and received a bid from the Tangerine Bowl for head coach George “Chick” Evans in 1991.

Outside of Northern Illinois athletics patriarchs Evans---the football coach and athletics director (1929-68)---and football star turned wrestling coach and AD and then special assistant to the president Bob Brigham (1947-2001), no one has had a longer tenure in Huskie sports than Pheanis.

“Jack is a Huskie and always will be a Huskie,” Groth said. “We’re just glad that he will remain on our Northern Illinois team in his new capacities. We all know of his great love for his alma mater and the men’s golf program in particular.”

In golf, Pheanis posted a full scorecard. After a brief stint in the prep coaching ranks, he returned to NIU in 1957-58 as an assistant in football and men’s basketball and undertook men’s golf as interim coach for three seasons. His 1959 golf team captured the NCAA College Division Midwest Regional and his 1960 group won the IIAC links crown.

Pheanis officially took the “interim” off his NIU job description in 1968-69 and, in the duration, produced two major-college All-America selections in Mick Soli (Honorable Mention in 1974 and 1975, and Second-Team in 1976) and Greg Dick (Honorable Mention in 1978 and 1979), four NCAA Tournament qualifiers (Dick Suesens in 1972, Soli in 1974, 1975, and 1976, Dick in 1979, and Kelly Holmes in 1985), and 17 all-conference performers.

During his tenure, Northern Illinois won seven league team championships---the IIAC in 1960, the MAC in 1976 and 1985, the Mid-Continent Conference in 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1994. Pheanis was named loop Coach of the Year six times (1976, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1994). Another NIU men’s golf highlight included three-time College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-America pick Dave Emanuelson (1998-2000). In addition, Emanuelson (1999, 2000), Tim Giger (1987), and Mike Suhre (1999, 2000) were all honored on the Collegiate Golf Coaches Association Academic All-America team.

“Jack has always been a loyal Northern Illinois man through and through,” said NIU sports information director emeritus Bud Nangle. “Over the years, he has been an integral part of the school’s athletics history both as a coach and a student-athlete. His 1976 golf team was a tremendous group. Few of us will forget that first MAC championship.”

Another Pheanis golf innovation was the prestigious Midwestern Invitational, hosted by Northern Illinois and Kishwaukee Country Club in the mid-1980s. The field included the best teams from the MAC and the Big Ten Conference and such major collegiate talents as Gary Nicklaus, Chris Perry and Clark Burroughs from Ohio State, Jim Benepe from Northwestern, Steve Strickler from Illinois, Guy Boros of Iowa, and Frank Lickliter from Wright State.

Pheanis played on two South Suburban Conference championship grid powerhouses at Bloom Township High School and made all-league as a senior. After earning his freshman numerals at the U of I, he served as blocking back for Evans’ Northern Illinois teams (1950-52) and led the Huskies in rushing (339 yards) as a senior. He produced 624 career ground yards and also earned an NIU letter in golf (1952). A U.S. Army veteran, Pheanis served in Korea during 1946-48.

A two-time NIU graduate---with a bachelor of science in education degree in 1952 and master of science in education in 1954, Pheanis began his career in 1953-54 as head football coach and athletics director at Warren Township High School and as head football coach at McHenry High School in 1955-57. His Huskie sideline tenure began as a graduate assistant in 1954-55 as head freshman coach in both football and men’s basketball.

A long-time member of the Collegiate Golf Coaches Association, Pheanis served a four-year term on the organization’s marketing committee and four-year stint on the NCAA men’s golf selection committee for District IV.

During those 46 years at NIU, he also was an assistant professor (1960-70), director of intramurals (1957-58), Varsity Club coordinator (1957-60), and men’s and women’s head golf coach (1982-86). One of his sons---Mike Pheanis---starred on the Northern Illinois wrestling team (1977-81), won two MAC titles in the 158-pound bracket, and qualified for the NCAA Tournament twice (1979 and 1981). Pheanis is married to the former Ruth Benson of Aurora, IL.

“I’ve been extremely fortunate here,” Pheanis said. “The relationship with the kids has always been the highlight for me. They’re like my sons. When we recruited them, we would ask the kids ‘do you want to be a Huskie?’ That was important to me. That great unbeaten 1963 football team with George Bork and ‘Fletch’ was a highlight. The 1960 IIAC champs, the two in the MAC---1976 was our school’s first MAC title and pretty special, the four in the Mid-Con in five years. I told our kids this year that I’ll be behind them next year and every year after that. I’ve enjoyed the coaches in the MAC and I’ve enjoyed all the responsibilities that I’ve had.”

(For further information, please contact Mike Korcek) -30-