Jan. 13, 2016

DeKALB, Ill. – With the Northern Illinois University offensive coaching staff set following the arrival of new offensive coordinator Mike Uremovich in DeKalb this week, NIU Head Coach Rod Carey announced the staff assignments on that side of the ball for 2016 on Wednesday.

Uremovich, the former NIU assistant and St. Francis (in Joliet) head coach who returned to NIU after three years at North Carolina State, will serve as assistant head coach in addition to his offensive coordinator duties, and will coach the NIU tight ends and fullbacks. Former Huskie quarterback Craig Harmon, who coached tight ends and fullbacks for NIU the past two seasons, will tutor the NIU quarterbacks while continuing to work with the Huskie special teams. Offensive line coach Joe Tripodi, who enters his seventh season with the program in 2016, will become NIU’s run game coordinator while continuing to lead the line.

Wide receivers coach Thad Ward and running backs coach Kelton Copeland round out the offensive coaching staff. Both enter their fourth season with the Huskies in 2016.

“I’m really excited about our offensive staff and believe it’s one of the finest in the country,” Carey said. “These coaches are not only very good at what they do, they care so much about our players and about NIU. Together, that is an excellent formula for success.”

Carey will announce the complete defensive staff and their roles after the open coaching position on that side of the ball has been filled.

NIU is coming off an 8-6 season that saw the Huskies win their sixth consecutive MAC West Championship and play in a bowl game for a MAC record eighth consecutive year. The Huskies lost just 13 seniors off the 2015 team and return six All-MAC players from a year ago, including first team All-American cornerback Shawun Lurry and Freshman All-American offensive tackle Max Scharping.

-- NIU --

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