DeKALB, Ill. – Illinois native Jeff Knowles, who spent the last three years on the football staff at N.C. State, has joined the Northern Illinois University football staff as an assistant coach.  Knowles will coach the Huskie linebackers while defensive coordinator Kevin Kane will now mentor the NIU safeties.
 
"We're excited to welcome Jeff and his family to the NIU Football family," said NIU Head Coach Rod Carey.  "In addition to his on-the-field coaching experience and ability to teach the game, he has great connections to this state and region in recruiting from his years at the University of Saint Francis in Joliet."
 
Over the last three seasons working on former NIU head coach Dave Doeren's staff at N.C. State, Knowles was in charge of defensive quality control.  In that role, he broke down the opponents' offense and personnel, prepared scouting reports and assisted with preparation of the defensive playbook. N.C. State played in three bowl games and won two during his time there. The Wolfpack defense was ranked in the Top 30 in the country in total defense in each of the past two seasons.
 
Prior to his time in Raleigh, Knowles spent six seasons on the coaching staff at his alma mater, USF in Joliet, from 2008-13. He coached the defensive line (2008-09) and linebackers (2010-13), served as recruiting coordinator in his final three seasons there and as defensive coordinator in 2012 and 2013.  He saw USF advance from achieving its first winning season in 2008  to winning the Mid-States Football Association title to claim the first conference championship in school history in 2011.  In 2012, he was nominated for the MSFA Assistant Coach of the Year honor as the Saints ranked 13^th in the NAIA in total defense and led the league in takeaways, pass defense and third-down conversions. 
  
"I'm excited about the opportunity to come and work with Coach Carey and the culture that's been built at NIU over the years," Knowles said.  "I'm looking forward to getting back to recruiting this area and renewing the relationships I've been able to form with the high school coaches in this area over the years.  It's good to be back home."
 
A native of Manhattan, Illinois, Knowles played collegiately at Saint Francis from 1996-2000, serving as team captain his final two seasons.  He earned his bachelor's degree in political science from USF and completed his master's degree in education from the university in 2010.  As a prep player, he was a member of the Providence Catholic High School team that won the state championship in 1994 and was a first team all-state linebacker. 
 
NIU, which won four of its last five games in 2016, is tentatively scheduled to open spring practices on March 21.  The annual Huskie Bowl is set for Saturday, April 22. Season tickets for the 2017 NIU football season go on sale this month.  NIU welcomes Boston College to Huskie Stadium for the 2017 season opener on Saturday, Sept. 1.
 
-- NIU --