Adam Breske, whose coaching résumé includes serving in coordinator roles on both defense and special teams, joined the Northern Illinois University football staff as linebackers coach and special teams coordinator on February 1, 2023 after spending the 2022 season at Washington State in a defensive quality control role.
“Adam has a great track record of developing players at the linebacker position throughout his career,” said NIU head coach Thomas Hammock. “He brings experience as a defensive coordinator and a special teams coordinator. You always want someone who is going to enhance and improve your staff and throughout the interview process, he rose to the forefront. His plan of attack of how to improve the linebacker position and how to enhance our special teams surpassed my expectations. I’m excited about him and his plan to help both of those groups excel in 2023.”
In his first season at NIU, Breske's starting linebacker group of Jaden Dolphin, Tyler Jackson and DaRon Gilbert were second, third and fourth respectively on the NIU defense in tackles. Dolphin was second on the team with 61 tackles. Jackson earned MAC West Defensive Player of the Week honors after tallying 10 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss against Ball State on Nov. 7. The NIU defense ranked sixth in the nation in passing defense at 171.2 yards allowed per game and was in the top-25 in total defense (319.5 yards/game), marking NIU's lowest total defense average since 2008.
NIU also had three Special Teams Players of the Week in kicker Kanon Woodill (Oct. 14 vs. Ohio), punter Tom Foley (Oct. 21 vs. Eastern Michigan) and punt returner Dane Pardridge (Nov. 14 vs. Western Michigan).
At Idaho from 2018-21, Breske worked with the inside linebackers all four seasons and took over as special teams coordinator in 2019. Vandal defenders earned 11 All Big Sky Conference honors during his four seasons, while Idaho special teamers were named all-conference six times, with punter Cade Coffey picking up second team All-America honors in 2021.
“I’m very excited to join a program that has a great reputation in this region,” Breske said. “I’m looking forward to working for Coach Hammock and with this staff. I’ve followed NIU for a long time through a lot of coaching colleagues and friends that have been here, and I know how good of a program it is. I’m excited to be able to come here and contribute to that tradition of success.”
Prior to his time at Idaho, Breske spent one season as linebackers and special teams coach at Sioux Falls (2017) and was the defensive line coach at Missouri Valley College in 2016. From 2007-15, Breske coached linebackers and added defensive coordinator duties in 2011. In his first game as defensive coordinator, the Coyotes upset defending national champion and No. 1 ranked Eastern Washington; that win was one year after USD’s Big Ten victory at Minnesota.
Breske’s linebackers earned 13 all-conference honors during his time at South Dakota, including Adam Broders, Shea Williams and Ryan Routh who were each honored in multiple seasons.
He began his coaching career at Central High School in his hometown of Greeley, Colo., where he earned his bachelor's degree in communication from Northern Colorado (2004). He earned his master’s degree in 2009 from South Dakota.
Breske and his wife, Danielle, have a son, Dylan, and a daughter, Layla.
