Chad Pecka begins his eighth season as a member of the NIU men's basketball staff in 2019-20, his sixth as Director of Player Development/Operations, a role he was elevated to after working as Video Coordinator in 2012-13.
Pecka has been a part of the rebuilding process at NIU that has seen a program which had produced just two winning seasons in the previous 15 years grow to earn its fourth postseason appearance, and the second-most wins, in school history in 2015-16, as NIU posted a 21-13 record and accepted an invitation to the inaugural Vegas 16.Â
Since that 2015-16 season, the Huskies have continued to have success, winning 66 games in the four seasons from 2015-16 through 2018-19, the second-most in program history during a four-year time period behind only the 68 victories from 1989-90 through 1992-93.
This past season, the Huskies earned 17 victories, tied for the sixth-most in school history, and advanced to the Mid-American Conference Tournament Semifinals for the first time since 2003. NIU recorded just its third win over a ranked opponent in school history when the Huskies defeated 14th-ranked Buffalo on January 22, the first Huskie win over a ranked foe since 1973.
A native of DeKalb, Ill., Pecka began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Texas-Pan American, working under former NIU assistant coach Ryan Marks for two seasons. Pecka was in charge of film break down, opponent scouting, in-and-out of season strength and conditioning programs and also served as the Camp Director while at UTPA.
Prior to UTPA, Pecka was the Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach at DeKalb High School for one season, helping lead the Barbs to the 2009 Western Sun Conference Title.
During the 2007-08 season, Pecka worked for the NBA's Indiana Pacers. Pecka assisted the basketball coaching staff as well as the head strength coach with all practices, games and player workouts. Pecka has also had work experience as a strength and skill development coach for the following organizations: Athletes Performance Institute, Impact Basketball Academy, and Joy of the Game.
As a player, Pecka was the top-ranked free throw shooter in the nation at Kishwaukee College in 2004 and currently holds Kishwakee records for all-time free throw percentage (88.2 percent) and consecutive free throws made (31). Pecka went on to play at Northwestern Oklahoma State, where he served as the team captain in 2006-07, leading the Rangers to the Division I NAIA National Tournament Elite Eight, the deepest tournament run in school history.
Pecka earned his bachelor's degree in Health and Fitness Management from Northwestern Oklahoma State and his master's degree in Kinesiology from Texas Pan American.
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