The Northern Illinois Huskies are the athletic teams that represent Northern Illinois University (NIU). The Huskies are a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The athletic program is made up of seven men's sports (baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, tennis, and wrestling) and 10 women's sports (basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, tennis, track, and volleyball). The football team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
NIU 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 Evans. The Husky mascot and nickname used today were officially chosen in 1940.
Sports sponsored
A member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC), NIU sponsors teams in seven men's and ten women's NCAA sanctioned sports.[5]
NIU 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).
NIU men's basketball started playing in 1900. They currently play home games at the NIU Convocation Center in DeKalb, Illinois. They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament three times (1982, 1991, 1996).
Championships
1932 – Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champions (Tournament)
1933 – Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champions
1934 – Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champions
1935 – Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champions
1941 – Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champions
1945 – Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champions
NIU football started playing in 1899. They have won one National Championship, have won 12 football conference titles, and have appeared in 16 Division I-A and College Division Bowl Games.
Championships
1938 – Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champions
NIU men's golf team currently plays its home matches at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois where it hosted the 2017 NCAA Men's Golf Championship. The team has won the Mid-American Conference Golf title in 1976, 1985, and 2023. The Huskies also qualified for the 1976 NCAA Golf tournament.
2006 – Mid-American Conference Champions (Tournament)
2011 – Mid-American Conference Champions (Tournament)
2021 – Mid-American Conference Champions (Tournament)
Men's tennis
NIU men's tennis team has had six players qualify for the NCAA tournament, one player twice and another player three times (1963, 1968, 1970–1973, 1987). They currently play their home matches at the NIU West Tennis Courts.
NIU Wrestling 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))
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.[6] Completed in the fall of 2008, the NIU Wrestling Training Complex features everything a student-athlete needs to reach the highest levels on and off the mat.[7]
NIU women's softball 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 Women's College World Series (1988).
NIU women's basketball started playing in 1957. They currently play home games at the NIU Convocation Center in Dekalb, Illinois. They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament five times (1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995). They have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) two times (1991, 2017).
NIU women's volleyball started playing in 1970. They currently play home games at the NIU Convocation Center in Dekalb, Illinois. They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament seven times (1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2011, 2016). They appeared in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) three times (1991, 1992, 1994).
Championships
1988 – North Star Conference Champions (Regular Season)
1988 – North Star Conference Champions (Tournament)
1990 – North Star Conference Champions (Regular Season)
1991 – North Star Conference Champions (Tournament)
1992 – Mid-Continent Conference Champions (Regular Season)
1992 – Mid-Continent Conference Champions (Tournament)
1993 – Mid-Continent Conference Champions (Regular Season)
1993 – Mid-Continent Conference Champions (Tournament)
1995 – Midwestern Collegiate Conference Champions (Regular Season)
1996 – Midwestern Collegiate Conference Champions (Regular Season)
1996 – Midwestern Collegiate Conference Champions (Tournament)
NIU Rugby Football was founded in 1968 and plays college rugby in the Mid-American Conference of Division 1-AA. The Huskies are led by Head Coach Kris Osterloh.[8] The Huskies reached the 2013 D1-AA national playoffs, but lost to Lindenwood in the round of 16.
Cheerleading
NIU Cheerleading 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 Division.
2016
All Girl: 5th
Large Coed: 6th
2015
Large Coed: 5th
NIU Athletics Hall of Fame
The NIU Athletics Hall of Fame first started in 1978. There has been an annual class induction since 1983. Women were inducted starting in 1986. There are currently 207 individuals and 17 teams enshrined in the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame.[9]
