Feb. 9, 2016
Dear Huskies,
Even though we are only a few weeks into 2016, the pace has not slowed here at NIU as we have already welcomed a number of new staff to the Huskie family, had another successful Football Signing Day, started our spring sports seasons and seen the excitement surrounding our men’s basketball program grow.
Under head coach Mark Montgomery, named by one publication as its choice for the Hugh Durham Award Midseason Coach of the Year, the 2015-16 Huskie men’s basketball team spent November and December building their confidence and developing its seven newcomers. With quality wins against teams like Wright State, South Dakota, Idaho, Florida International and UIC and an 11-2 non-conference record, it’s easy to see why we are so excited about this team. And if you have not been out to see them play, what are you waiting for?
It truly has been outstanding for me to watch the newcomers and veterans come together to play some great team basketball, especially at home in the Convocation Center, where the team put together a 15-game home winning streak. While the streak was recently broken, the chance to start a new streak starts at every home game.
I have loved seeing the increase in fan support this season as the community has rallied behind our men’s and women’s basketball teams. The rowdy atmosphere in the Convo is really starting to make an impact. We still want and need to see more of you every game day!
Aside from being excited over our sport programs, in January, I was very proud to travel to Dallas for the NCAA Convention where NIU was presented with the 2016 Diversity and Inclusion Award by the NCAA and Minority Opportunities Athletic Association. President Baker, Senior Associate Athletic Director Jerome Rodgers and Faculty Athletics Representative Matt Streb joined me onstage to accept the award from NCAA President Mark Emmert and MOAA President Mario Moccia. However, the credit really belongs to our entire department, and our entire university. Diversity here at NIU is not a “sometime thing,” it is an “all-the-time thing.” It is an issue that has been near and dear to my heart throughout my career in intercollegiate athletics, which made this particular award very special to me.
Please take a moment to click here and watch the video produced by the NCAA, it will make you proud to be a Huskie!
Speaking of “pride,” NIU Athletics, and our entire university, is excited to work with leaders in our community to promote and express why we are #ProudlyDeKalb. Our community leaders have put together an aggressive revitalization plan focusing on seven areas which have led DeKalb to become the only community in Illinois to be named a semifinalist in the America’s Best Communities competition sponsored by Frontier Communications and others. The eight finalists selected later this spring will be awarded one million dollars to put their plans in place and the winner could receive as much as $3 million. NIU is #ProudlyDeKalb and we are happy to support this effort, which could have a lasting impact on our city and on the university. Visit ProudlyDeKalb.com for more information.
Finally, there is nothing that makes me more proud then the success of our student-athletes when it comes to academics. This fall, our cumulative GPA climbed to a school-record 3.14 after our nearly 400 student-athletes combined for a semester GPA of 3.10 (also a school record). Every women’s sports team, and 13 of our 16 programs overall had a team cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Individually, 211 student-athletes had a GPA above 3.0 for the fall. NIU student-athletes are getting after it in the classroom and every Huskie should be proud of that!
As you know, all of Illinois’ higher education institutions are facing challenges and making difficult decisions due to the state budget impasse. This issue has also affected our ability to move as quickly as we had hoped in regards to identifying our next major project for the Facility Master Plan. Please know that we have not stopped working toward our ultimate goals, and the future of NIU Athletics continues to be very bright!
Despite the fact the last six weeks have been busy, it’s nothing compared to what is ahead! I am looking forward to strong finishes by men’s and women’s basketball, along with the rest of our winter sports teams. In the coming weeks, we’ll have our 2016 football schedule, and donors and season ticket holders will receive their 2016 renewal information, so please be on the lookout for that. In the meantime, be assured that the support of each and every one of you is critical to moving NIU Athletics forward!
I look forward to seeing you!
Go Huskies!
Sean T. Frazier
Associate Vice-President and Director of Athletics
