Northern Illinois Huskies

Northern Illinois Huskies
University Northern Illinois University
Conference MAC
NCAA Division I FBS
Athletic director Sean Frazier
Location DeKalb, Illinois
Varsity teams 17 (7 men, 10 women)
Football stadium Huskie Stadium
Basketball arena Convocation Center
Baseball stadium Ralph McKinzie Field
Softball stadium Mary M. Bell Field
Soccer stadium NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex[1]
Other arenas Soldier Field
Mascot Victor E. Huskie Mission Huskie[2]
Nickname Huskies
Fight song "Huskie Fight Song"[3]
Colors Cardinal and Black[4]
         
Website www.niuhuskies.com

The Northern Illinois Huskies are the athletic teams that represent Northern Illinois University. The Huskies are a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and the Mid-American Conference. The athletic program is made up of 7 men's sports (baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, tennis, wrestling) and 10 women's sports (basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, tennis, track, volleyball). The football team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Northern Illinois began athletic competition in 1899 and were nicknamed the Profs. In the 1920s, they were referred to as the Cardinals. During the 1930s they were called Evansmen after George "Chick" Evans. The Huskie mascot and nickname used today were officially chosen in 1940.

Men's athletics

Baseball

Northern Illinois baseball started playing in 1900. The program was disbanded from 1983 through 1990. They currently play home games at the Ralph McKinzie Field in Dekalb, Illinois. They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament twice (1972, 1996).

Championships

Basketball

Northern Illinois men's basketball started playing in 1900. They currently play home games at the Convocation Center in DeKalb, Illinois. They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament three times (1982, 1991, 1996).

Championships

Football

Northern Illinois football started playing in 1899. As of 2011, they have won 10 football conference titles, appeared in 12 Division I-A and College Division Bowl Games (winning five).

Championships

Golf

The Northern Illinois men's golf team currently plays its home matches at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois. The team won the 1976 Mid American Conference Golf title and qualified for the 1976 NCAA Golf tournament.

Soccer

The Northern Illinois men's soccer started playing in 1962. They currently play their home games at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex. They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament two times (2006, 2011).

Championships

Tennis

The Northern Illinois men's tennis team had six players qualify for the NCAA tournament, one player twice and another player three times (1963, 1968, 1970–1973, 1987).

Wrestling

The Northern Illinois Wrestling team started in 1931, and first started competing in the Division I (NCAA) in 1969 . The team had 9 NCAA All-Americans & 96 wrestlers qualify for the NCAA tournament, with two winning the NCAA title. Three other Huskie Wrestlers won the NAIA championship (1958 (@123), 1961 (@167), 1961 (@177))

1985 - Mid-American Conference Champions

Ryan Ludwig (three-time NAIA All-American and a national finalist at 157 pounds) is currently in his 3rd season as head coach for the Huskies.[5] Completed in the fall of 2008, the Northern Illinois Wrestling Training Complex features everything a student-athlete needs to reach the highest levels on and off the mat.[6]

Women's athletics

Softball

Northern Illinois women's soccer started playing in 1959. They currently play their home games at Mary M. Bell Field. They have made two NCAA Regional appearances (1988, 1996) and one appearance in the world series (1988).

Championships

Basketball

Northern Illinois women's basketball started playing in 1957. They currently play home games at the Convocation Center in Dekalb, Illinois. They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament five times (1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995).

Championships

Soccer

Northern Illinois women's soccer started playing in 1993. They currently play their home games at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex.

Championships

Volleyball

Northern Illinois women's volleyball started playing in 1970. They currently play home games at the Convocation Center in Dekalb, Illinois. They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament six times (1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2011).

Championships

Tennis

Northern Illinois women's tennis team started playing in 1974. They currently play their home games at the NIU West Tennis Courts.

Championships

Gymnastics

Northern Illinois women's gymnastics started playing in 1978. They currently play home games at the Convocation Center in Dekalb, Illinois.

Golf

The Northern Illinois women's golf team currently plays its home matches at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois.

Track and field

Northern Illinois women's outdoor track and field team currently plays at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex. The women's indoor track and field team plays at Convocation Center.

Cross country

Northern Illinois women's cross country team first played for one year in 1981. The program was reinstated in 1995.

Notable non-varsity sports

Rugby

Founded in 1968, the Northern Illinois Rugby Football Club plays college rugby in the Mid-American Conference of Division 1-AA. The Huskies are led by Head Coach Kris Osterloh.[7] The Huskies reached the 2013 D1-AA national playoffs, but lost to Lindenwood in the round of 16.

Cheerleading

The Northern Illinois Univeristy Cheerleading Program consist of two teams, All Girl and Large Coed. Both teams perform at football games, basketball games, and at the NCA College Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida. In 2016, both teams made it to finals with the All-Girl team Finishing in 5th while the Large Coed team place 6th in the D1A Divison.


2016

All Girl: 5th

Large Coed: 6th


2015

Large Coed: 5th

Huskie Hall of Fame

The Huskie Hall of Fame first started in 1978. There was an annual class induction since 1983. Women were inducted into the Hall of Fame since 1986. There are currently 179 individuals and 14 teams enshrined in the Huskie Hall of Fame.

References

  1. ↑ "The Northern Illinois Official Athletic Site - Facilities". niuhuskies.com.
  2. ↑ iPhoto. "Dogs and Canine Characters: 31 of 52". mascots.com.
  3. ↑ "NIUHUSKIES.COM - The Northern Illinois Official Athletic Site - Traditions". niuhuskies.com.
  4. ↑ "NIU Athletic Marks Standards Guide" (PDF). 2016-07-12. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
  5. ↑ "NIU Wrestling". Northern Illinois University Athletics. Retrieved 2014. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  6. ↑ "NIU Wrestling Informational Facts". Northern Illinois University Athletics. Retrieved 2014. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  7. ↑ NIU Rugby, Officers, http://niurugby.wordpress.com/officers-2/
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