07-19-2005, 02:55 PM
Phillips: The next big thing
By Nick Gerts - Chronicle Sports Editor
Updated Saturday, July 16, 2005 10:11 PM CDT
<a href='http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2005/07/17/sports/sports02.txt' target='_blank'>http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/20...ts/sports02.txt</a>
Jim Phillips keeps finding ways to top himself.
Back in November, the first-year Athletic Director spearheaded the charge to get the Northern Illinois University football program its first bowl bid since 1983.
Then in December, he landed one of the biggest games in school history with the 2005 season-opener against Michigan in the Big House, giving coach Joe Novak and the program another weapon in the recruiting wars between MAC programs.
However, Phillips' best was still to come.
He started the new year with the blockbuster hiring of former Huskie great Carol Owens as the new women's basketball coach, replacing Carol Hammerle.
The Chicago native continued to breathe new life into the Huskie athletic program in April, announcing plans - which was six years in the making - to build a new Academic and Athletic Performance Center in the north endzone of Huskie Stadium. Phillips needed eight months to make it a reality.
He followed that up with the hiring of Marci Miller - a member of the U.S. women's soccer team - as the replacement for Frank Horvath as the NIU women's soccer coach.
The icing on the cake came Thursday.
Phillips turned Northern Illinois football from a side note into a major player in the Chicago market this week after brokering a four-year deal with WSCR-670 AM The Score on Thursday.
Northern Illinois barely received any mention in the Chicagoland area the years leading up to the turnaround the last three years. Wins over Maryland, Iowa State and Alabama transformed the Huskies from small-time players into media darlings.
Winning brings change and Phillips took advantage with the four-year deal with the Score in broadcasting all football games and 20 men's basketball contests annually through 2008-09.
Another amazing coup will be arriving on Monday.
According to the Shreveport Times, Independence Bowl executive director Glen Krupica is returning home.
Krupica finished out his duties as executive director of the bowl Friday and will start with his alma mater on Monday as the Huskies associate athletic director for external affairs.
"From a personal standpoint, bringing the kids closer to grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, they've never been able to do that," Krupica told the Louisiana-based paper. "If you're going to do it, do it now. When you get to junior high, that's when it gets tough. That's a big factor.
"I'll be overseeing about four or five different business units that way," Krupica said. "It's a lot of what I do here."
Krupica announced his resignation a month ago, a day prior to the Independence Bowl signing a letter of intent for a new sponsor. Unfortunately for the bowl committee, the deal with Alltel Communications collapsed.
The one thing that won't be collapsing is the momentum Phillips has built this past year.
Phillips' rookie campaign would be a banner season for any AD at any mid-major program. For Phillips, this is just the beginning.
With one month left in his opening year, Phillips should continue building his impressive resume as a dominant and successful mid-major Athletic Director. Phillips should flourish under his role entering year two and beyond.
Phillips has brought an aura to Northern Illinois, and the Midwest is starting to take notice. It's just a matter of time before the big boys take notice to Phillips.
By Nick Gerts - Chronicle Sports Editor
Updated Saturday, July 16, 2005 10:11 PM CDT
<a href='http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2005/07/17/sports/sports02.txt' target='_blank'>http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/20...ts/sports02.txt</a>
Jim Phillips keeps finding ways to top himself.
Back in November, the first-year Athletic Director spearheaded the charge to get the Northern Illinois University football program its first bowl bid since 1983.
Then in December, he landed one of the biggest games in school history with the 2005 season-opener against Michigan in the Big House, giving coach Joe Novak and the program another weapon in the recruiting wars between MAC programs.
However, Phillips' best was still to come.
He started the new year with the blockbuster hiring of former Huskie great Carol Owens as the new women's basketball coach, replacing Carol Hammerle.
The Chicago native continued to breathe new life into the Huskie athletic program in April, announcing plans - which was six years in the making - to build a new Academic and Athletic Performance Center in the north endzone of Huskie Stadium. Phillips needed eight months to make it a reality.
He followed that up with the hiring of Marci Miller - a member of the U.S. women's soccer team - as the replacement for Frank Horvath as the NIU women's soccer coach.
The icing on the cake came Thursday.
Phillips turned Northern Illinois football from a side note into a major player in the Chicago market this week after brokering a four-year deal with WSCR-670 AM The Score on Thursday.
Northern Illinois barely received any mention in the Chicagoland area the years leading up to the turnaround the last three years. Wins over Maryland, Iowa State and Alabama transformed the Huskies from small-time players into media darlings.
Winning brings change and Phillips took advantage with the four-year deal with the Score in broadcasting all football games and 20 men's basketball contests annually through 2008-09.
Another amazing coup will be arriving on Monday.
According to the Shreveport Times, Independence Bowl executive director Glen Krupica is returning home.
Krupica finished out his duties as executive director of the bowl Friday and will start with his alma mater on Monday as the Huskies associate athletic director for external affairs.
"From a personal standpoint, bringing the kids closer to grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, they've never been able to do that," Krupica told the Louisiana-based paper. "If you're going to do it, do it now. When you get to junior high, that's when it gets tough. That's a big factor.
"I'll be overseeing about four or five different business units that way," Krupica said. "It's a lot of what I do here."
Krupica announced his resignation a month ago, a day prior to the Independence Bowl signing a letter of intent for a new sponsor. Unfortunately for the bowl committee, the deal with Alltel Communications collapsed.
The one thing that won't be collapsing is the momentum Phillips has built this past year.
Phillips' rookie campaign would be a banner season for any AD at any mid-major program. For Phillips, this is just the beginning.
With one month left in his opening year, Phillips should continue building his impressive resume as a dominant and successful mid-major Athletic Director. Phillips should flourish under his role entering year two and beyond.
Phillips has brought an aura to Northern Illinois, and the Midwest is starting to take notice. It's just a matter of time before the big boys take notice to Phillips.