Northern Illinois coaches history
| Coach | Years | Seasons | Record | Win % | Best season | Best final AP rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rob Harley | 2026 | 1 | 0-4 | .000 | 0-4 (2026) | Not ranked |
| Thomas Hammock | 2019-2025 | 7 | 35-47 | .427 | 9-5 (2021) | Not ranked |
| Rod Carey | 2012-2018 | 7 | 52-30 | .634 | 12-2 (2013) | Not ranked |
| Dave Doeren | 2011-2012 | 2 | 23-4 | .852 | 12-1 (2012) | No. 22 (2012) |
| Jerry Kill | 2008-2010 | 3 | 23-16 | .590 | 10-3 (2010) | Not ranked |
| Joe Novak | 1996-2007 | 12 | 63-76 | .453 | 10-2 (2003) | Not ranked |
| Charlie Sadler | 1991-1995 | 5 | 18-37 | .327 | 5-6 (1992) | Not ranked |
| Jerry Pettibone | 1985-1990 | 6 | 33-32-1 | .508 | 9-2 (1989) | Not ranked |
| Lee Corso | 1984 | 1 | 4-6-1 | .409 | 4-6-1 (1984) | Not ranked |
| Bill Mallory | 1980-1983 | 4 | 25-19 | .568 | 10-2 (1983) | Not ranked |
| Pat Culpepper | 1976-1979 | 4 | 14-29-1 | .330 | 5-5-1 (1979) | Not ranked |
| Jerry Ippoliti | 1971-1975 | 5 | 25-29-1 | .464 | 7-4 (1972) | Not ranked |
| Doc Urich | 1969-1970 | 2 | 6-14 | .300 | 3-7 (1969) | Not ranked |
Head coaches from CollegeFootballData coach records, interim coaches included as their own line. The current season's record comes from this season's results.
Every Northern Illinois head coach on record since 1969: the years each one led the program, the record, win percentage and best season, with Joe Novak the winningest at 63 wins. For year-by-year results, see the Northern Illinois record by year.
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Frequently asked questions
Who is the Northern Illinois head coach?
Rob Harley, head coach since 2026, with a 0-4 record.
Who is the winningest coach in Northern Illinois history?
Joe Novak, 63 wins (63-76) from 1996-2007.
How many head coaches has Northern Illinois had?
13 head coaches on record since 1969, interim coaches included.
Who coached Northern Illinois the longest?
Joe Novak, 12 seasons (1996-2007).
All Northern Illinois pages
- Northern Illinoisteam hub
- Northern Illinoisrecord by year
- Northern Illinoisbowl history
- Northern Illinoisrecruiting
- Northern Illinoistransfer portal
- Northern Illinoisbetting trends
- Northern Illinoisstrength of schedule
- Northern Illinoisshare of plays
- Northern Illinoisdepth chart
- Northern Illinoisall-time leaders
- Northern IllinoisNFL Draft history
- Northern Illinoisodds
- Northern Illinoistitle scenarios
- Northern Illinoisstadium guide
- Northern Illinoisnational titles
- Northern Illinoishead coach