Jan. 17, 2009

DeKALB, Ill. -- Northern Illinois Head Coach Jerry Kill will be honored by the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Football Hall of Fame on Monday, February 23, 2009 when he will receive the prestigious National Football Foundation Courage Award.

The NFF Chicago Metro Chapter Awards Ceremony will be held from 3:30-6pm at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, which is rarely open to the public. Space is limited to the first 120 people that register online at www.nffchicagoawards.eventbrite.com, where complete details about the event are provided. Limited seating remains available for $150 per person with proceeds going to the Chicago chapter's scholarship funds.

Jeff Joniak, the voice of the Chicago Bears, will emcee the event and introduce Coach Kill. Chicago Bears President/CEO Ted Phillips will be the keynote speaker and Northwestern University Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald will be honored for his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. In addition, $20,000 in college scholarships will be provided to local high school seniors that excelled on and off the football field.

Additional information about the National Football Foundation is available at www.footballfoundation.com/chapters. Questions about the NFF Awards Ceremony can be directed to the Chapter President, Chris Kearney, at chriskearney@prodigy.net.

Kill completed his first season as Northern Illinois' head coach with a trip to the 2008 Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. after leading the Huskies' to a four-game improvement in the win column.

-- NIU --