March 31, 2016
DeKALB, Ill. – Bob Bostad, a veteran offensive coach with experience at the college and professional ranks, has joined the Northern Illinois University football staff and will coach the tight ends and fullbacks, NIU head coach Rod Carey announced Thursday.
Bostad has spent the past four years coaching the offensive line for the Tennessee Titans (2014-15) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2012-13) of the National Football League after six years on the offensive coaching staff at the University of Wisconsin (2006-11).
Carey was happy to add a coach with Bostad’s résumé and experience to the NIU staff.
“We’re really excited to hire Bob Bostad – both for what he brings from his time in the NFL and what he accomplished at Wisconsin and prior to that at New Mexico and some other places,” Carey said. “His experience will be invaluable to our program. He’s certainly going to make a difference with his coaching ability and with his recruiting ties.”
Bostad brings 26 years of coaching experience to NIU. With the Titans in 2014 and 2015, he coached Taylor Lewan to Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie honors, and his Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive line allowed the third-fewest sacks in the NFL in 2012.
As run game coordinator and offensive line coach at Wisconsin from 2008-11, he coached four first team All-Americans and three first round draft selections. The Badgers played in a pair of Rose Bowls and led the way as Montee Ball scored an NCAA record 39 rushing touchdowns in 2011. As tight ends coach at UW in 2006 and 2007, Travis Beckum earned All-America honors while catching 75 passes for 982 yards, and two of his players went on to play in the NFL. In Bostad’s six seasons as run game coordinator, Wisconsin had a 1,000-yard rusher in each season.
Bostad said he relished the opportunity to come to NIU, a program with a strong winning tradition.
“It’s obviously a program that knows how to win and being here just a short time, I have seen that is because of the people in the program – the players, the coaches, the staff,” Bostad said. “I’m going to do my best to coach these players, to add to the system already in place and to move the program forward.”
Prior to Wisconsin, Bostad served as offensive line coach at the University of New Mexico from 1999 to 2005. Four of his Lobo players were drafted by NFL teams. He also made coaching stops at San Jose State (1997-98) and Cal State Northridge (1995-96). A graduate of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, he began his coaching career there in 1990 and ’91 before moving on to Minnesota, where he served as a graduate assistant from 1992-94.
The Huskies have completed five of their 15 allotted spring practice dates and return to the practice field Friday at 4:30 p.m. Spring drills conclude on Saturday, April 23 at 2 p.m. with the annual Huskie Bowl at Huskie Stadium. Admission is free and details on the Communiversity Block Party and other activities scheduled for that day are being finalized now.
NIU is coming off an 8-6 season in 2015 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, as well as first team All-American cornerback Shawun Lurry and Freshman All-American offensive tackle Max Scharping.
NIU Football 2016 season tickets are on sale now through the NIU Athletics Ticket Office in the Convocation Center, online at NIUHuskies.com/tickets and by calling 815-753-PACK (7225). Prices for 2016 season tickets begin as low as $99. Season ticket members will see the Huskie Chi-Town Showdown at Chicago’s U.S. Cellular Field versus Toledo, and all five Huskie Stadium games from the best seat locations at the lowest prices, and enjoy other benefits including access to special events, a season ticket member gift, priority seating and discounts on basketball and volleyball tickets.
NIU is again offering the Huskie Family Pack with four tickets in sections A, B, F or G for just $299. Larger families can add tickets to the Family Pack for $74.75 each. See the Season Ticket Guide/Order Form for more information on all of the season ticket options.
Season tickets for seats in the premium areas at Huskie Stadium, as well as passes for the Coaches Club, End Zone Club and the new Premium Access Pass, are now available. Contact the Huskie Athletic Fund, the primary fundraising arm of NIU Athletics at 815-753-PACK (7225) or go to HuskieAthleticFund.com for more information on how to maximize your game day experience.
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