An experienced defensive coach with extensive ties to the Midwest, Tyler Yelk joined the NIU Football coaching staff in February 2018 as an assistant coach, working with the Huskie safeties.
Yelk came to NIU after two seasons at South Dakota where he served as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach. Before that, he coached defensive backs for three years at Western Illinois before being promoted to co-defensive coordinator in 2015. Yelk began his coaching career at his alma mater, Minnesota-Duluth, in 2009.
In 2017 season, South Dakota ranked first in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and 12
th nationally in both sacks and tackles for loss, and were 20
th in the country in interceptions. The previous year, the Coyotes led the MVFC in takeaways. Five defensive players collected All-MVFC honors during his tenure. In Yelk’s second season in Vermillion, USD went 8-5, including a win over Bowling Green, and advanced to the second round of the FCS Playoffs.
Yelk coached defensive backs and special teams at Western Illinois in 2013 and ’14 and was named co-defensive coordinator in 2015. In his final season with the Leathernecks, WIU made the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2010, and led the MVFC in both turnovers gained and in interceptions. WIU ranked 11
th nationally in turnovers and seventh in interceptions in Yelk’s season as the co-coordinator, and intercepted a total of 35 passes in his three seasons in Macomb.
At his first coaching job, Yelk became the only Bulldog to win a National Championship as a player and coach when the Bulldogs claimed the 2010 NCAA Division II title in his second season as an assistant coach at Minnesota-Duluth. Overall, he spent four years as defensive backs coach at his alma mater, with UMD qualifying for the NCAA Playoffs each year. In addition to the 2010 undefeated season, UMD twice advanced to the quarterfinals, while two players were named All-Americans and seven earned All-Region honors during his tenure. He also served a special teams coordinator in 2012.
"Tyler brings a coordinator's perspective to the safeties room,” said NIU Head Coach Rod Carey in announcing Yelk’s arrival at NIU. “From his time as a coordinator at Western Illinois and South Dakota, along with being a standout player at Minnesota-Duluth, I've known about Tyler for a long time, and am happy to bring him on board."
During his playing career, Yelk was an All-American defensive back as a senior who finished his career as Minnesota-Duluth’s career leader in tackles after leading the team in tackles in three seasons, including as a freshman, and during UMD’s 2008 undefeated championship season. Yelk was named an All-American by three different organizations and twice was named first-team all-NSIC/NCC. Following his senior year, he was selected to play in the 2008 Cactus Bowl, an all-star game for Division II seniors.
Yelk earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science in 2008, and a master’s of education degree from UMD in 2012. He and his wife Elyce, have a daughter, Leighton.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
| 2018 |
NIU (Safeties) |
| 2016-17 |
South Dakota (Co-Defensive Coordinator, Safeties) |
| 2013-15 |
Western Illinois (Defensive Backs, Co-Defensive Coordinator) |
| 2009-12 |
UMD (Defensive Backs, Special Teams) |
POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE
| 2017 |
FCS Playoffs, Second Round (South Dakota, Asst. Coach) |
| 2015 |
FCS Playoffs, First Round (WIU, Asst. Coach) |
| 2012 |
DII Playoffs, First Round (UMD, Asst. Coach) |
| 2011 |
DII Playoffs, Quarter Finals (UMD, Asst. Coach) |
| 2010 |
Division II National Champions (UMD, Asst. Coach) |
| 2009 |
DII Playoffs, Quarter Finals (UMD, Asst. Coach) |
| 2008 |
Division II National Champions (UMD, Player) |
| 2008 |
Cactus Bowl All-Star Game (UMD, Player) |
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
| 2005-08 |
Minnesota-Duluth (Safety) |
EDUCATION
| College |
B.S., University of Minnesota-Duluth, 2008 |
|
M.S., University of Minnesota-Duluth, 2012 |
| High School |
Poynette High School, Poynette, Wis. 2004 |
PERSONAL
| Birthdate |
06/19/1985 |
| Hometown |
Arlington, Wis. |
| Family |
Wife Elyce; daughter, Leighton |
