Ohio native John Hauser enters his fifth season at Northern Illinois in 2007 and is in his second year as the Huskies[apos] defensive backs coach after working as a graduate assistant for the NIU defense his first three years in DeKalb.
A year ago, Hauser saw safety Dustin Utschig, one of three seniors in the Huskie secondary, garner second-team All Mid-American Conference honors after leading NIU in tackles and pass break-ups.
Hauser has been a member of the football staff since the magical 2003 season when Northern Illinois won 10 regular-season games, including upsets of Maryland, Alabama and Iowa State. He was on the sidelines and worked with the NIU secondary as a graduate assistant coach in 2004 when the Huskies played in the Silicon Valley Classic and in 2005 when NIU advanced to the Mid-American Conference Championship Game. He saw Lionel Hickenbottom (2004) and Ray Smith (2005) precede Utschig as All-MAC choices at safety.
Prior to coming to Northern Illinois, Hauser briefly worked on the football staff at his alma mater, Wittenberg University, where he was a four-year letterwinner at free safety. During his playing career, Wittenberg won 44 of 50 games, captured three North Coast Athletic Conference Championships and made four consecutive appearances in the NCAA Division III Playoffs.
As a player, Hauser was a three-time All-NCAA selection - in 2000, 2001 and 2002 - and was twice named Football Gazette All-North Region. As a senior, he earned Division III All-America honors and was selected to participate in the 2002 Aztec Bowl, a Division III all-star game.
Hauser transferred to Wittenberg after beginning his collegiate playing career at Ball State, where he was a walk-on member of the football squad.
He graduated from Bishop Hartley High School in Columbus, Ohio as a seven-time varsity letterwinner in football (4) and baseball (3). A free safety, linebacker and running back on the gridiron, he earned Second-Team All-State honors at linebacker in 1997 and was a first team All-Central Catholic League selection. On the diamond, Bishop Hartley won the state Division 4 title in 1996 with Hauser at shortstop.
Hauser, whose brother, Chris, is a graduate assistant football coach at Ohio State, graduated from Wittenberg in 2002 with a bachelor[apos]s degree in business management. He earned his master[apos]s degree in adult education from NIU in 2007.
ABOUT HAUSER
Coaching Experience
2003-present, Northern Illinois, DB; GA
2003, Wittenberg
Playing Experience
Wittenberg, 1999-2002
Ball State, 1998
Postseason Experience
As a Coach
2006 Poinsettia Bowl
2005 MAC Championship Game
2004 Silicon Valley Bowl
As a Player
2002 Division III Playoffs
2001 Division III Playoffs
2000 Division III Playoffs
1999 Division III Playoffs
Education
College: Wittenberg, B.A. (2002); Northern Illinois, M.A. (2007)
High School: Bishop Hartley (Ohio) HS (1998)
Personal
Birthdate: Feb. 27, 1980
Birthplace: Columbus, Ohio
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Family: Single
