DeKALB – The NIU Athletics department announced six dates for the 2016-17 Coffee With Carlsen breakfast speaker series on Monday, starting Oct. 18 with guest speaker Ray Gooden, Head Coach of the Huskies' volleyball team.

The series will have a new location this season with the events being held at Faranda's Banquet Center (302 Grove St.) with the exception of December's, which will be held at Lincoln Inn (240 E Lincoln Hwy) in Downtown DeKalb. Also changing this year, the doors will open at 7 a.m., with the program starting at 7:30 a.m.

Coffee With Carlsen will feature Head Women's Basketball Coach Lisa Carlsen, who enters her second season at Northern Illinois University in 2016-17. Each event will also feature a special guest speaker from a different women's program at NIU.

Fans who attend the event will be able to visit and talk with Coach Carlsen, members of the women's basketball staff, other members of the NIU Athletics department and like fans in attendance.

The cost of attendance for Coffee With Carlsen is $10 with all patrons receiving breakfast and a beverage of their choice.

Season tickets for the upcoming 2016-17 basketball season are available now with the combined men's and women's season ticket package for $145.

NIU women's basketball season tickets start at just $35 with reserved seating tickets starting at $50 – a cost of less than $4 per game. Senior citizens, NIU faculty/staff and Alumni Association members can purchase tickets for $40 for the season.

For more information or to purchase season tickets, call the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225) or log on to NIUHuskies.com/tickets.

The Huskies will open the season with an exhibition game versus Lakeland College on Nov. 5 at the NIU Convocation Center. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m. Central.

COFFEE WITH CARLSEN SCHEDULE & GUESTS
Oct. 18 - Ray Gooden (Volleyball
Nov. 15 - Kim Kester (Golf)
Dec. 13 - Christina Sutcliffe (Softball)
Jan. 17 - Sam Morreale (Gymnastics)
Feb. 21 - Tanya Gombera (Tennis)
March 21 - Connie Teaberry (Track & Field) & Adrian Myers (Cross Country)