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Joe Novak

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Joe Novak
Biographical details
Born (1945-04-19) April 19, 1945 (age 79)
Playing career
1965–1966Miami (OH)
Position(s)Defensive end
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1972–1973Warren Western Reserve (OH)
1974–1976Miami (OH) (DC/LB)
1977–1979Illinois (DL)
1980–1983Northern Illinois (DC/LB)
1984–1995Indiana (DC/LB)
1996–2007Northern Illinois
Head coaching record
Overall63–76 (college)
23–1 (high school)
Bowls1–1
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
3 MAC West Division (2002, 2004–2005)
Awards
MAC Coach of the Year (2002)

Joe Novak (born April 19, 1945) is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Northern Illinois University from 1996 to 2007, compiling a record of 63–76.[1]

Novak played college football as a defensive end at Miami University under head coach Bo Schembechler. After beginning his coaching career in the high school ranks, Novak had stints as an assistant coach at Miami, the University of Illinois, Northern Illinois, and Indiana University. At Illinois, he served under head coach Gary Moeller, who had been one of the assistants at Miami under Schembechler. Novak was a longtime assistant of Bill Mallory, another Miami assistant coach and alum. Novak served on Mallory's staffs from 1980-1995.

During the 2003 season, Novak's Northern Illinois squad defeated three BCS conference teams: #13 Maryland, #21 Alabama in Tuscaloosa, and Iowa State. Winning their first seven games, the Huskies were ranked as high as #12 in the AP Poll, #14 in the Coaches' Poll, and #10 in the BCS rankings. In the 2004 season, Novak led the Huskies to a 9–3 record and their first bowl appearance in 21 years, winning the Silicon Valley Football Classic over Troy.

On November 26, 2007, Novak announced his retirement from coaching. "Winning is fragile," Novak said, "You've got to enjoy it when you're doing it....People have always said, 'You'll know when it's time,' and I believe that now is the time." His successor at Northern Illinois was Jerry Kill.

Head coaching record

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College

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Northern Illinois Huskies (NCAA Division I-A independent) (1996)
1996 Northern Illinois 1–10 6th
Northern Illinois Huskies (Mid-American Conference) (1997–2007)
1997 Northern Illinois 0–11 0–8 6th (West)
1998 Northern Illinois 2–9 2–6 5th (West)
1999 Northern Illinois 5–6 5–3 T–2nd (West)
2000 Northern Illinois 6–5 4–3 T–3rd (West)
2001 Northern Illinois 6–5 4–3 T–2nd (West)
2002 Northern Illinois 8–4 7–1 T–1st (West)
2003 Northern Illinois 10–2 6–2 T–2nd (West)
2004 Northern Illinois 9–3 7–1 T–1st (West) W Silicon Valley
2005 Northern Illinois 7–5 6–2 T–1st (West)
2006 Northern Illinois 7–6 5–3 T–3rd (West) L Poinsettia
2007 Northern Illinois 2–10 1–6 6th (West)
Northern Illinois: 63–76 47–38
Total: 63–76
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

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  1. ^ Mangia, Brandon (November 27, 2007). "Head football coach Joe Novak retires". Northern Star.