DEKALB, Ill. – It's only been four practices, but a constant comment Northern Illinois University head coach Thomas Hammock has heard during this preseason camp is how his staff looks like they've been coaching together for years.
 
"Some people have made the comment, 'It doesn't seem like this is the first time you all have been together,' and that's critical," Hammock said. "Those guys are working their tails off to do things right. We have meetings every night to go over the plan for tomorrow.
 
"We take it one day at a time as a staff and it's starting to show with the confidence of the players. I have been very pleased with how my staff has adjusted and adapted as we continue to move forward and get to know each other."
 
When you look at the make up of Hammock's staff, he has familiarity with most of his coaches, but not a long-standing history with them. He and associate head coach and defensive coordinator coach Derrick Jackson coached together at NIU under Huskie great Joe Novak in 2005.
 
Hammock encountered Daryl Agpalsa, Jordan Gigli and Tony Sorrentino at Minnesota in 2010 when Gigli and Sorrentino were defensive and offensive quality control assistants and Agpalsa was an offensive line graduate assistant. He met Robert Wimberly for the first time when the two were at Wisconsin together in 2003.
 
"My main goal when I put my staff together was to find guys that have done more with less," he said. "Being at a place like NIU, we don't have all the luxuries of some other schools, but that can't stop us in our pursuit of greatness and excellence. I was looking for guys that have been very successful at smaller places and did it the right way."
 
Two guys on staff that represent that philosophy are offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Eric Eidsness and running backs/special teams coordinator Atif Austin. Both served on coaching staffs of two successful FCS programs at South Dakota State and North Dakota State, respectively.
 
There are also three young coaches on staff – Aaron Wilkins, Houston Jones and Travis Moore, a former teammate of Hammock's at NIU – that have cut their teeth at FCS, Division II and the high school ranks, respectively, that are making an impact during camp.
 
The Huskies were in shorts, shoulder pads and helmets for the second consecutive practice and worked out in Huskie Stadium for two-plus hours on a warm Monday afternoon. The Huskies spent the first 50 minutes working on individual drills, focusing on the details from recovering an onside kick to ball security.
 
After a period of one-on-ones, and another of seven-on-seven, they spent the remainder of practice working team, with a special teams period late. For the last few minutes of practice Hammock had the guys ditch their head gear, a lesson he learned in the NFL.
 
"We're trying to get them to learn football," Hammock said. "We finished practice up with a backed-up segment [plays inside the five-yard line]. I learned something in the NFL, when you take the helmets off, you get a lot more focus on the details."
 
NIU returns to the practice field in full pads on Tuesday. Follow all the stories and links from 2019 NIU Preseason Camp at Camp Central on NIUHuskies.com.
 
Preseason practices are closed to the public, except for 2:30 p.m. practices on Sunday, August 11 and on Sunday, August 18.  On August 11, all 2019 season ticket members are invited to watch practice and stick around afterwards for a Q&A session with Hammock. The Huskies will hold their annual Family Fun Day on Sunday, August 18 with inflatable games for the kids and an autograph session with the team following the workout. 
 
Season Tickets for all five 2019 NIU home games are still available, starting at as little as $60 for an East Side (general admission) season ticket. Purchase four tickets for family or a group of friends on either the East or West Side for as little as $55 or $75 per person with the Huskie Family Pack, including the ability to purchase tickets at those rates for additional people. 
 
Three-game Mini-Plans, which include a choice of any two Saturday and either #MACtion (weeknight) game are just $70 each for all three games, while the new Huskie Flex Pass offers the chance to purchase a minimum of five tickets to any game or combination of games for $75, or just $15 each. The new Saturdays Special includes a ticket to all three Saturday home games as well as a voucher good for a hot dog, chips and a soda for each game for just $110.
 
To renew or purchase new season tickets and #JointhePack for 2019, click the links above, which are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Tickets are also available by calling 815-753-PACK (7225), emailing huskiestickets@niu.edu or stopping by the NIU Athletics Ticket Office in the Convocation Center, which is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 
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