Illinois native Nick Benedetto, a successful position coach and defensive coordinator at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and NCAA Division II levels for the past nine years, joined the Northern Illinois University football staff as co-defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach in the spring of 2022.
In his first season as defensive coordinator, NIU almost doubled its turnovers forced from 2021 with 20 in 12 games in 2022. The Huskies went from a -6 turnover margin in 2021 to a +4. Four Huskies earned All-MAC honors on defense led by second team selections in defensive tackle Devonte O'Malley and safety CJ Brown. Defensive End Michael Kennedy and defensive tackle James Ester were named to the third team.
In 2023 the Huskies ranked sixth in all of FBS in passing defense, leading the MAC at 171.2 yards allowed per game for an improvement of over 80 yards per game from the previous year. NIU was also third in the MAC in total defense at 319.5 yards per game allowed which put the Huskies in the top-25 nationally. It was the lowest total defense for NIU since 2008. The Huskies held their opponent to 24 points or less nine times in the 2023 season, recording their first shutout in four seasons on Nov. 14 with a 24-0 victory over Western Michigan. Cornerback Javaughn Byrd and defensive tackle James Ester were both All-MAC second team selections.
Benedetto came to NIU from Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., where he served as defensive coordinator in 2020 and 2021, overseeing a defense that improved in nine of 12 statistical categories in his first season. During his time as defensive coordinator at the University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) for three seasons, the Cougars ranked in the Top 15 in eight NCAA Division II defensive statistical categories and twice advanced to the playoffs.
At Samford, Benedetto’s 2020 defense saw improvement in nine of 12 defensive categories and ranked first in the league in turnovers and opponents’ third down percentage, as well as third in quarterback sacks. During his tenure at Samford, five defensive players earned All Southern Conference honors and one – safety Chris Edmonds – was named a first team All-American.
Prior to his time in Birmingham, Benedetto spent three seasons (2017-19) as the defensive coordinator at Sioux Falls, his alma mater, which went 24-11 during that time. His 2019 defense ranked fourth nationally in total defense while the Cougars’ 2017 defense was second in the nation. During his three seasons as defensive coordinator, opponents averaged just 15.6 points per game.
He recruited and coached Arizona Cardinals linebacker Dennis Gardeck and saw two players earn All-America honors while 25 were named to the all-conference team.
A native of Crystal Lake, Illinois, Benedetto spent the 2013-16 seasons as defensive coordinator, defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator at NCAA Division II West Virginia State University. The defense made improvements across the board throughout his tenure and the team finished the 2015 season with its best record in seven years. In 2015, Benedetto was named one of the “Top 30 under 30” coaches in the country by the American Football Coaches Association and the NCAA. He was one of two Division II coaches named to the list.
He began his coaching career at the University of South Dakota during the 2010 and 2011 seasons, where he worked with the safeties as a graduate assistant and spent the 2012 season as defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator at Grand View University prior to going to WVSU.
A standout defensive back who went to Sioux Falls after graduating from Crystal Lake South High School, Benedetto captained the 2008 National Champion team and was an all-conference in 2008 and 2007, when the Cougars were 13-1, losing only in the title game. The Cougars won 52-of-55 games during his playing career.
He graduated from Sioux Falls in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and earned a master’s degree in sports management from South Dakota in 2011. Benedetto and his wife, Kelsey, have two sons, Rocco and Ace, and a daughter, Amara.
