Atif Austin joined the Huskie football coaching staff in February 2019 as assistant coach, working with the NIU running backs, and serving as special teams coordinator.
Austin comes to NIU with a championship pedigree, having spent the 2018 season as an assistant running backs coach with the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots. The Patriots ranked fifth in the National Football League with 127.3 rushing yards a game last season, led by Sony Michel who gained 931 yards on 209 carries.
Prior to his year in the NFL, the native of Tarpon Springs, Fla. spent four seasons (2014-18) with Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) powerhouse North Dakota State, coaching the Bison wide receivers while serving as special teams coordinator.
During his four-year tenure in Fargo, the Bison made four FCS Playoff appearances, won three National Championships and four Missouri Valley Football Conference titles. The Bison Austin mentored North Dakota State wide receivers Zach Vraa and Darrius Shepherd, who rank first and second, respectively, in NDSU career receiving yards and career pass receptions.
A four-year starter at defensive back for Iowa State (1999-2002), Austin was the running backs coach at Stetson in 2013. He also spent five seasons as running backs coach and special teams coordinator at Northern Iowa from 2005-10 after beginning his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Southwest Minnesota State (2003-04). The Panthers made three FCS Playoff appearances during his stay in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Iowa State played in three bowl games during his playing career under head coach Dan McCarney. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Iowa State in 2002 and his master’s in leadership & education from Southwest Minnesota State in 2005.
Austin, and his wife Tori, have three children; Djoni, Amni and A.J.
