(08-13-2026 12:51 PM)HUSKIEFOOTBALLFAN Wrote:  

(08-13-2026 10:13 AM)HuskieDave Wrote:  The Copeland extension, while thru June 30, 2032, eliminated the previous buyout provision.

https://x.com/skylerkisellus/status/2087...qsyn5erw5A

I don't normally like discussing other peoples salaries, but since it out there here goes. According to Google AI, the salary range is:

Horizon league - Salary Range: Roughly $65,000 to $100,000 per year.

MAC - Salary Range: Roughly $80,000 to $150,000 per year.

MW - Salary Range: Roughly $120,000 to $230,000+ per year for head coaches.

Miami-OH is pretty good about having all their coaching staff contracts on public websites.

https://miamioh.edu/athletics-recreation...c-records/

Here's their head baseball coaches salary for each year. He just signed an additional two-year extension this month as well.

A $1,500 bonus for winning a regional game is laughable IMO. That should be much more. $1,500 should be just for getting them there at a minimum.

I agree about the assistant coaches, they should really look to up that even if it is a small amount.

I'm very surprised they eliminated a buyout though? That doesnt make sense to me at all.

Doesn't make sense on the NIU side - but probably didn't have a choice to get Copeland to sign any sort of extension.

(08-13-2026 04:26 PM)JeffNIU Wrote:  Doesn't make sense on the NIU side - but probably didn't have a choice to get Copeland to sign any sort of extension.

I mean, the baseball pay is so little that any buyout amount would be peanuts. I'm guessing his previous buyout would have only been worth maybe $30-40k to NIU if he took another job.

Plus, Frazier seems to do a poor job at negotiating these contracts. See the Hammock and Burno contracts for example. Most schools negotiate the buyout to be the base salary only. NIU's contracts were just straight you get two full year amounts and 50% for additional remaining years. It's why it would cost us $2 million to buyout Hammock and his four years. If it was negotiated correctly, it would have cost NIU less than $1 million to fire him.

(08-13-2026 05:21 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(08-13-2026 04:26 PM)JeffNIU Wrote:  Doesn't make sense on the NIU side - but probably didn't have a choice to get Copeland to sign any sort of extension.

I mean, the baseball pay is so little that any buyout amount would be peanuts. I'm guessing his previous buyout would have only been worth maybe $30-40k to NIU if he took another job.

Plus, Frazier seems to do a poor job at negotiating these contracts. See the Hammock and Burno contracts for example. Most schools negotiate the buyout to be the base salary only. NIU's contracts were just straight you get two full year amounts and 50% for additional remaining years. It's why it would cost us $2 million to buyout Hammock and his four years. If it was negotiated correctly, it would have cost NIU less than $1 million to fire him.

The one clause I loved that some other school was any school that hired X coach away gets a return game at the home field basically for peanuts. This was a couple years ago, but thought that is something NIU should put in any of its coaching contracts.

(08-13-2026 06:36 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  

(08-13-2026 05:21 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(08-13-2026 04:26 PM)JeffNIU Wrote:  Doesn't make sense on the NIU side - but probably didn't have a choice to get Copeland to sign any sort of extension.

I mean, the baseball pay is so little that any buyout amount would be peanuts. I'm guessing his previous buyout would have only been worth maybe $30-40k to NIU if he took another job.

Plus, Frazier seems to do a poor job at negotiating these contracts. See the Hammock and Burno contracts for example. Most schools negotiate the buyout to be the base salary only. NIU's contracts were just straight you get two full year amounts and 50% for additional remaining years. It's why it would cost us $2 million to buyout Hammock and his four years. If it was negotiated correctly, it would have cost NIU less than $1 million to fire him.

The one clause I loved that some other school was any school that hired X coach away gets a return game at the home field basically for peanuts. This was a couple years ago, but thought that is something NIU should put in any of its coaching contracts.

I have no idea how that is even legally possible……any hiring-away school would never have been party to the employment contract. You may have seen it in scheduling agreements between schools, but, there is no way that would be enforceable in an employment contract.

Dahlberg is back

(08-18-2026 05:38 PM)7 Wrote:  Dahlberg is back

That is great news. Team seems to be coming together nicely for next spring.

(08-18-2026 05:38 PM)7 Wrote:  Dahlberg is back

That is huge, because there was no experienced depth back at the catcher spot. Thanks for sharing.

Email on 9/3/2026 from Coach Copeland:

Quote:Huskies Alums & Supporters,

I wanted to provide you with a quick fall update! Our guys are back on campus, and we're in the thick of it with class, study hall, community service projects, team lifting, and practice.  Many of our players returned to campus in early August for optional workouts with our strength and conditioning coach, John Ghibellini. As we finish up our 2nd week of practice, it's hard to imagine the vibes being any better than they are right now.  We are coming off a historic season in which we won 36 games, swept through the conference tournament to become MAC Champions for the 1st time ever, and picked up a win in the opening round of the Tallahassee Regional against Coastal Carolina, the 2025 national runner up. Several key contributors are returning from last year's team, and I couldn't be more excited to get to work with this group.

Despite the success we had last year, our staff has made it clear to our players that we haven't accomplished anything - coaches included. We will put our heads down and do everything we can in order to put ourselves in a position to run it back this upcoming season. Our biomechanics partner, P3, was in DeKalb earlier this week for our fall assessments. They analyze our pitchers' mobility, and pitch quality using Trackman and Hawkeye 3D imaging, while Coach Kelch is already making tremendous strides with our offense.  I've included some other important information below:

Coaching Staff

Ryan Copeland - Head Coach
Joe Kelch - Associate Head Coach
Calvin Peacock - Pitching Coach
Cole Smith - Graduate Assistant
John Ghibellini - Strength and Conditioning
Kaleb Ellison - Athletic Training
Eric Erato - Academic Support
Gavin Heller - Manager
Tyler Houston - Manager

Fall Ball

We are currently in our individual phase of workouts, meaning the guys practice in small groups for an hour each day. We will begin team practice on Monday, September 14th and go through the end of October.  During that time, we will intrasquad on the weekends (open to the public). We will play an exhibition vs Lewis University on Saturday, October 3rd at 1 pm.

Golf Outing

Our annual alumni and friends golf outing will take place during Homecoming Weekend on Friday, October 9th at Whitetail Ridge in Yorkville.  I've included a registration link below if you are interested in getting a foursome together.  Title sponsors, gift sponsors, and hole sponsors are also available.  If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me directly!

https://www.myniu.com/article.html?aid=3068

Schedule

We will begin the season on the road for our first five weekends, something we have grown very accustomed to. We will open up at the University of Tennessee for a 3-game series from February 19-21, followed by non-conference weekends at Murray State, Evansville / Southern Indiana, as well as a 4-team tournament with St. Louis, Lindenwood, and SIU-Edwardsville. Our home opening weekend is March 25-27 vs Northern Kentucky. Our full schedule will be released to the public later this fall.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need anything from me. I'm looking forward to building upon our success from last season and playing well into June.

Go Huskies!

(08-18-2026 05:38 PM)7 Wrote:  Dahlberg is back

Btw, to update this thread. Dahlberg is not on the roster. Due to all the NCAA lawsuits he has not been granted eligibility. He is serving as an extra volunteer coach for the team right now. It sounds like if he wants to gain eligibility he/NIU would have to lawyer up.

After listening to mom, NIU baseball commit Anthony Cartolano leads Brother Rice past Mount Carmel in football

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/2...ther-rice/

From today's (9/30/2026) Inside Huskie Football Radio Show.

Coach Ryan Copeland was interviewed after Rob Harley.

What was mentioned/discussed:

- 6 of 9 starters from last season return and working on another player getting approved with new 5-for-5 rule. Coach didn't exactly say who that was but guessing that player is Ivan Dahlberg.

- James Wilson from Jax St
- Mason Orton and trying to get him to make next step and become part of the rotation
- Josh Vaughn
- Jacob Barrett

- Exhibition game this Saturday vs Lewis.

- Golf outing on Friday, Oct 9 is sold out with 144 golfers, but sponsorship opportunities available.

- MAC is usually top 15 in RPI, says Horizon is not but hopefully with NIU joining will help bring the conference up.

- Coach is close to Sam Antonacci (White Sox) family.

New commit. Gabe McHugh (infielder) from Kankakee Community College.

https://x.com/gabemchugh24/status/210721...qsyn5erw5A

Picked up another transfer, this one a catcher since Dahlberg can't come back to play one last year.

Sounds like there will be a new entrance to the stadium next year, closer to the Chessick Center. Lights are also being worked on but they sounds a little more up in the air.