Dec. 9, 2010
DeKALB, Ill. -- NIU Interim Head Coach Tom Matukewicz (Muh-TUKE-uh-WITTS) announced the coaching staff that will lead the 2010 Northern Illinois Huskies (10-3) into their bowl match-up in the uDrove Humanitarian Bowl against Fresno State (8-4) on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010 in Boise, Idaho. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN beginning at 4:30 p.m. (CT).
Matukewicz, the Huskies' linebackers coach who was promoted to Interim Head Coach on Tuesday, said that Rob Reeves will add offensive coordinator duties to his role as running backs coach and that Jay Sawvel will serve as defensive coordinator while continuing to work with the NIU safeties for this game.
Graduate assistant coaches Joe Tripodi and Melvin Rice will take on increased duties with the offensive line and cornerbacks, respectively, after working on the field with those position groups throughout the season. In addition, Billy Glasscock and NIU alums Alex Krutsch and Matt Simon have been moved into on-field coaching positions for the bowl game. Glasscock will assist Tripodi with the offensive line, Krutsch will work with Jeff Phelps and the defensive line and Simon takes on a role working with the special teams.
"This is a group of people that have been with this team all year," Matukewicz said. "We've taken some off the field people and moved them into different roles, but this group of coaches has been together all season and it's been a record-setting year.
"I want this community, this region and all of the Huskies to know that this staff and these players are going to give everything we have, and give our very best going into this game against Fresno State in Boise. We have all committed to that and if we hadn't, we wouldn't be getting on the plane next Tuesday."
Below is a list of the Huskies' coaching staff for the bowl game along with their responsibilities.
Tom Matukewicz, Interim Head Coach/Linebackers
Rob Reeves, Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs
Jay Sawvel, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
Brian Anderson, Tight Ends
Jeff Phelps, Defensive Line
Pat Poore, Wide Receivers
Melvin Rice, Cornerbacks
Joe Tripodi, Offensive Line
Jim Zebrowski, Quarterbacks
Billy Glasscock, Assistant Offensive Line
Alex Krutsch, Assistant Defensive Line
Matt Simon, Assistant Special Teams
Eric Klein, Sports Performance
Adam Clark, Assistant Athletic Director/FB Operations
Huskies Hold First Workout
Northern Illinois held its first organized team activity of the week in preparation for the bowl game as the squad met and worked out in the Yordon Center and at Huskie Stadium Thursday. After spending the last three days concentrating on final exams, Director of Sports Performance Eric Klein worked the team in two groups. Each group spent part of the workout outside on the Huskie Stadium field that had been partially cleared of snow. NIU will practice either outside or at the DeKalb Park District Recreation Center on Friday depending on weather and field conditions.
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