One of the greatest players in the history of NIU Football, 2013 Heisman Trophy finalist Jordan Lynch joined the NIU coaching staff on March 8, 2017. The All-America quarterback (2010-13) who set NCAA records for rushing yards by a quarterback, will coach the Huskie running backs in 2017.
“Obviously, with Jordan, the name speaks for itself,” said NIU Head Coach Rod Carey in announcing the hire. “He's a Heisman Trophy finalist, got us to the Orange Bowl, got us to the cusp of a Fiesta Bowl, and set all sorts of records. He’s probably one of the most beloved players that have come through here in recent history. When you are talking about the greats of Huskie Football, our tradition, you can’t do that without saying the name Jordan Lynch.”
“I think he’s going to be a great football coach. In his time in the CFL, he really grew in the way he viewed the game. He was starting to see it through a coaches’ lens and I really think he’s ready for this. If I didn’t think he was ready, I wouldn’t have hired him.”
Lynch finished third in the 2013 Heisman Trophy voting, the highest finish by a player from the Mid-American Conference.
“I always knew when I got done playing football, I wanted to get into coaching,” Lynch said. “I just love being around the players and being back at NIU. When [Coach Carey] started talking to me about the possibility of a position opening up here, I took some time and thought about it. I felt it was a great opportunity for me and I couldn’t pass it up. Some of my best memories of playing football have been here at Northern. To come back and help get the program get back to where it was appealed to me.”
The former Huskie quarterback returns to NIU after a two-year career with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. Lynch threw for 48 yards and a touchdown on 6-of-9 passing, while rushing for 228 yards and five touchdowns on 53 carries in 36 games with the Eskimos. In the 2015 Grey Cup, he plunged in from one yard out on third and goal to score the game-winning touchdown.
One of the most decorated football players in Huskie history, Lynch was a first-team All-America selection at the all-purpose position by the Associated Press, Phil Steele and Lindy’s and earned second-team honors from USA Today and CBSSports.com following a 2013 season where he led the Huskies to a 12-0 regular season.
He rushed for an NCAA QB-record 1,920 yards and 23 touchdowns, while throwing for 2,892 yards and 24 touchdowns on 253-of-404 passing. The quarterback rushing mark is one of five NCAA records set by the Chicago native in 2013. He also set the single-game quarterback rushing mark - twice. On Oct. 19, he rushed for 316 yards against Central Michigan, then broke his own record with 321 yards on Nov. 26 against Western Michigan.
A two-time Vern Smith Leadership Award recipient, Lynch led NIU to victory in the 2012 MAC Championship Game in his first season as the starting quarterback. With NIU’s 44-37 overtime victory over Kent State, Lynch and the Huskies earned a berth to the 2013 Orange Bowl, the first MAC school to participate in a Bowl Championship Series Bowl.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
| 2017- |
Northern Illinois (Running Backs) |
POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE
| 2015 |
Grey Cup (Edmonton, Player) |
| 2013 |
Poinsettia Bowl (NIU, Player) |
| 2013 |
Orange Bowl (NIU, Player) |
| 2012 |
GoDaddy.com Bowl (NIU, Player) |
| 2010 |
Humanitarian Bowl (NIU, Player) |
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
| 2015-16 |
Edmonton Eskimos (Quarterback) |
| 2010-13 |
NIU (Quarterback) |
EDUCATION
| College |
B.S., NIU |
| High School |
Mount Carmel, 2009 |
PERSONAL
| Birthdate |
Oct. 3, 1990 |
| Birthplace |
Mount Greenwood, Ill. |
| Hometown |
Mount Greenwood, Ill. |
