The Chicago Tribune: NIU's tough Novak left mark on game

They lost by a touchdown, leaving NIU with a record of 2-10 after having had seven winning seasons in a row.

In the locker room, Novak had a few words of consolation for his boys.

"Next season starts on Monday," he told them.

What he didn't tell them is that next season would have to start without him.

Novak announced his retirement Monday, hanging up his whistle after a dozen seasons at NIU and 40 integrity-filled, controversy-free years of coaching football.

The Chicago Tribune: NIU coach Novak leaves pack

Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Haywood is expected to be high on Northern Illinois' list. Haywood has coached at LSU and Texas, where he was Cedric Benson's running backs coach, in addition to MAC schools Ball State and Ohio.

Illinois offensive coordinator Mike Locksley also is expected to be near the top of the list. Locksley's profile has risen with the Illini's successful 2007 season, and he is considered a key part of Ron Zook's turnaround of Illinois' football fortunes.

Rick Minter, Cincinnati head coach for 10 years and Notre Dame's defensive coordinator for the first two years of Charlie Weis' tenure before being replaced in January, is expected to get strong consideration. Minter was Lou Holtz's defensive coordinator when the Irish won consecutive Cotton Bowls after the 1992 and '93 seasons.

The Chicago Sun-Times: Plank puts hat in NIU ring

The man Buddy Ryan named the ''46 defense'' after and the two-time Arena Football League coach of the year is interested in the Huskies vacancy. The former Bear, who also calls NFL games for Sports USA Radio Network, has been looking to get into the college game for some time and had immediate interest after Joe Novak's retirement was announced Monday

The Daily Chronicle: Top Five Wins Under Novak

1. NIU 20, MARYLAND 13 (OT)

A sold-out Huskie Stadium and a nationwide television audience witnessed NIU's biggest victory under Novak on Aug. 28, 2003. NIU pulled out the upset victory in overtime after quarterback Josh Haldi found a diving P.J. Fleck in the back of the end zone to hand the Huskies the overtime triumph. The victory was the first of three BCS wins in 2003.

Of course the Chronicle gets it wrong...the overtime pass was to Sheldon.