Joe Novak, Former Northern Illinois Football Coach, Dies at 81

Joe Novak, the former head coach of Northern Illinois University (NIU) football, died at age 81. Novak led the Huskies from 1996 to 2007, turning the program into a Mid-American Conference (MAC) contender with four MAC West division titles (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005) and two bowl appearances, including a Silicon Valley Bowl win in 2004.

His tenure featured landmark victories over Maryland and Alabama in 2003, propelling NIU into the AP poll as high as No. 12. Prior to NIU, Novak coached at the high‑school level, served as an assistant at Miami University, Illinois, and Indiana, and was a standout defensive end at Miami, later inducted into its Athletics Hall of Fame. He was honored as MAC Coach of the Year in 2002 and AFCA Region 3 Coach of the Year in 2003. Colleagues and former players praised his impact on and off the field.