I am not well versed on who top candidates would be, but this athletic department needs to act in a hurry and start over. Does anyone have a short list of possible candidates?
Translated:
I don't actually know anything, but I like to be loud online.
Do some research, come back to us with a top 5. Let's have a discussion. Let's start it out, which FCS schools are hiring young and talented coaches? Fundraising efforts kicked off? A sharpshooting assistant AD from the Big 10 again?
(10-24-2026 04:17 PM)BleedsHuskieRed Wrote: Translated:
I don't actually know anything, but I like to be loud online.
Do some research, come back to us with a top 5. Let's have a discussion. Let's start it out, which FCS schools are hiring young and talented coaches? Fundraising efforts kicked off? A sharpshooting assistant AD from the Big 10 again?
I'd rather lean on the expertise of people on this message board who know good candidates. A change has to be made ASAP, NIU athletics is near extinction
(10-24-2026 04:17 PM)BleedsHuskieRed Wrote: Translated:
I don't actually know anything, but I like to be loud online.
Do some research, come back to us with a top 5. Let's have a discussion. Let's start it out, which FCS schools are hiring young and talented coaches? Fundraising efforts kicked off? A sharpshooting assistant AD from the Big 10 again?
I'd rather lean on the expertise of people on this message board who know good candidates. A change has to be made ASAP, NIU athletics is near extinction
Expertise...people on a message board...boy are you barking up the wrong tree.
(10-24-2026 04:17 PM)BleedsHuskieRed Wrote: Translated:
I don't actually know anything, but I like to be loud online.
Do some research, come back to us with a top 5. Let's have a discussion. Let's start it out, which FCS schools are hiring young and talented coaches? Fundraising efforts kicked off? A sharpshooting assistant AD from the Big 10 again?
I'd rather lean on the expertise of people on this message board who know good candidates. A change has to be made ASAP, NIU athletics is near extinction
Part of NIU's problem is the so-called expertise of people on this message board. Go back and see all the praise and optimism just after STF was hired, same when Rob Judson, Ricardo Patton, Marc Montgomer, and Rashon Burno took over, same when Hammock came back, same when Rob Hurley was put in charge. Don't wish to be banned, blacklisted or whatever, but expertise of the people on this message board is like buttholes.......assume you know what follows.
(10-24-2026 04:17 PM)BleedsHuskieRed Wrote: Translated:
I don't actually know anything, but I like to be loud online.
Do some research, come back to us with a top 5. Let's have a discussion. Let's start it out, which FCS schools are hiring young and talented coaches? Fundraising efforts kicked off? A sharpshooting assistant AD from the Big 10 again?
I'd rather lean on the expertise of people on this message board who know good candidates. A change has to be made ASAP, NIU athletics is near extinction
Part of NIU's problem is the so-called expertise of people on this message board. Go back and see all the praise and optimism just after STF was hired, same when Rob Judson, Ricardo Patton, Marc Montgomer, and Rashon Burno took over, same when Hammock came back, same when Rob Hurley was put in charge. Don't wish to be banned, blacklisted or whatever, but expertise of the people on this message board is like buttholes.......assume you know what follows.
At this point, I do not even need a genius to come up with a great name or the best name, I just need a few names that are theoretically possible to hold the position and have some credibility. Any replacement right now is an improvement, any at all.
(10-24-2026 04:17 PM)BleedsHuskieRed Wrote: Translated:
I don't actually know anything, but I like to be loud online.
Do some research, come back to us with a top 5. Let's have a discussion. Let's start it out, which FCS schools are hiring young and talented coaches? Fundraising efforts kicked off? A sharpshooting assistant AD from the Big 10 again?
I'd rather lean on the expertise of people on this message board who know good candidates. A change has to be made ASAP, NIU athletics is near extinction
Part of NIU's problem is the so-called expertise of people on this message board. Go back and see all the praise and optimism just after STF was hired, same when Rob Judson, Ricardo Patton, Marc Montgomer, and Rashon Burno took over, same when Hammock came back, same when Rob Hurley was put in charge. Don't wish to be banned, blacklisted or whatever, but expertise of the people on this message board is like buttholes.......assume you know what follows.
Nailed it! We know nothing, we are morons on a message board lol. Why people take us so seriously is beyond me.
(10-24-2026 04:17 PM)BleedsHuskieRed Wrote: Translated:
I don't actually know anything, but I like to be loud online.
Do some research, come back to us with a top 5. Let's have a discussion. Let's start it out, which FCS schools are hiring young and talented coaches? Fundraising efforts kicked off? A sharpshooting assistant AD from the Big 10 again?
I'd rather lean on the expertise of people on this message board who know good candidates. A change has to be made ASAP, NIU athletics is near extinction
Part of NIU's problem is the so-called expertise of people on this message board. Go back and see all the praise and optimism just after STF was hired, same when Rob Judson, Ricardo Patton, Marc Montgomer, and Rashon Burno took over, same when Hammock came back, same when Rob Hurley was put in charge. Don't wish to be banned, blacklisted or whatever, but expertise of the people on this message board is like buttholes.......assume you know what follows.
Nailed it! We know nothing, we are morons on a message board lol. Why people take us so seriously is beyond me.
We do not even need a top tier candidate at this point, just a body to replace what is there now
Here you go. Top 50 associate athletic directors according to some west coast AAU group (not that I'm vouching for it). You'll want someone from a football school who can raise money. NIU has too many successful alums have for this program to be so poor at fundraising.
Best case scenario right now is for President Freeman to take an early retirement now, then have the board hire a great president, who will hire a great AD, who will hire a great football coach. Thankfully STF's and Harley's contracts are up after this year.
(10-26-2026 09:34 AM)Max Power Wrote: Here you go. Top 50 associate athletic directors according to some west coast AAU group (not that I'm vouching for it). You'll want someone from a football school who can raise money. NIU has too many successful alums have for this program to be so poor at fundraising.
Best case scenario right now is for President Freeman to take an early retirement now, then have the board hire a great president, who will hire a great AD, who will hire a great football coach. Thankfully STF's and Harley's contracts are up after this year.
President Freeman has to go. When I was at NIU, focus was having top academics. The Accounting program was one of the best in the nation. NIU had the highest first time passing rate in the nation for quite a few years. Now the goal.is diversity.
(10-26-2026 09:34 AM)Max Power Wrote: Here you go. Top 50 associate athletic directors according to some west coast AAU group (not that I'm vouching for it). You'll want someone from a football school who can raise money. NIU has too many successful alums have for this program to be so poor at fundraising.
Best case scenario right now is for President Freeman to take an early retirement now, then have the board hire a great president, who will hire a great AD, who will hire a great football coach. Thankfully STF's and Harley's contracts are up after this year.
President Freeman has to go. When I was at NIU, focus was having top academics. The Accounting program was one of the best in the nation. NIU had the highest first time passing rate in the nation for quite a few years. Now the goal.is diversity.
Yes, Freeman needs to go as well, like yesterday.
I think the fundraising climate at NIU could be way better, alumni and corporate, with the right candidate. Plenty of untapped $ around and room for growth. Fingers crossed we get someone that creates the right atmosphere and culture this time around.
(This post was last modified: 10-26-2026 09:58 AM by NIUfilmmaker.)
(10-24-2026 04:17 PM)BleedsHuskieRed Wrote: Translated:
I don't actually know anything, but I like to be loud online.
Do some research, come back to us with a top 5. Let's have a discussion. Let's start it out, which FCS schools are hiring young and talented coaches? Fundraising efforts kicked off? A sharpshooting assistant AD from the Big 10 again?
I'd rather lean on the expertise of people on this message board who know good candidates. A change has to be made ASAP, NIU athletics is near extinction
Part of NIU's problem is the so-called expertise of people on this message board. Go back and see all the praise and optimism just after STF was hired, same when Rob Judson, Ricardo Patton, Marc Montgomer, and Rashon Burno took over, same when Hammock came back, same when Rob Hurley was put in charge. Don't wish to be banned, blacklisted or whatever, but expertise of the people on this message board is like buttholes.......assume you know what follows.
Nailed it! We know nothing, we are morons on a message board lol. Why people take us so seriously is beyond me.
People follow these boards and take everything so seriously, because there's literally no one else following NIU. We are barely even mentioned in the news, the most we ever got was the Notre Dame win.
Some fans, myself included, will literally take any insight we got. Adam Schefter has no idea where University of North Illinois is.
(10-24-2026 04:17 PM)BleedsHuskieRed Wrote: Translated:
I don't actually know anything, but I like to be loud online.
Do some research, come back to us with a top 5. Let's have a discussion. Let's start it out, which FCS schools are hiring young and talented coaches? Fundraising efforts kicked off? A sharpshooting assistant AD from the Big 10 again?
I'd rather lean on the expertise of people on this message board who know good candidates. A change has to be made ASAP, NIU athletics is near extinction
Part of NIU's problem is the so-called expertise of people on this message board. Go back and see all the praise and optimism just after STF was hired, same when Rob Judson, Ricardo Patton, Marc Montgomer, and Rashon Burno took over, same when Hammock came back, same when Rob Hurley was put in charge. Don't wish to be banned, blacklisted or whatever, but expertise of the people on this message board is like buttholes.......assume you know what follows.
Nailed it! We know nothing, we are morons on a message board lol. Why people take us so seriously is beyond me.
People follow these boards and take everything so seriously, because there's literally no one else following NIU. We are barely even mentioned in the news, the most we ever got was the Notre Dame win.
Some fans, myself included, will literally take any insight we got. Adam Schefter has no idea where University of North Illinois is.
lol yeah we have to have someone compile every boneyard victory and edit this clip from breaking bad to … who the hell are you? You know exactly who I am …. ….. say my name ….. your’ re NIU!
STF is a wonderful guy and a great golf cart driver/rider!
I wrote to him to ask him if I could ride on the basketball team bus to Ft. Wayne later this season. He said I could have a seat in the back of the bus. I’m so excited, even though the seat he assigned me is broken with the arm rest falling off. I told him that would be fine because I’m used to sitting in seats like that in the Convo. All he asked that I do is say nice things about him on this board. So….
STF is a nice man who lets a common fan ride on a nice bus with nice seats. Vive STF!!!
(10-26-2026 11:57 AM)Dog Fan Wrote: STF is a wonderful guy and a great golf cart driver/rider!
I wrote to him to ask him if I could ride on the basketball team bus to Ft. Wayne later this season. He said I could have a seat in the back of the bus. I’m so excited, even though the seat he assigned me is broken with the arm rest falling off. I told him that would be fine because I’m used to sitting in seats like that in the Convo. All he asked that I do is say nice things about him on this board. So….
STF is a nice man who lets a common fan ride on a nice bus with nice seats. Vive STF!!!
(10-26-2026 11:57 AM)Dog Fan Wrote: STF is a wonderful guy and a great golf cart driver/rider!
I wrote to him to ask him if I could ride on the basketball team bus to Ft. Wayne later this season. He said I could have a seat in the back of the bus. I’m so excited, even though the seat he assigned me is broken with the arm rest falling off. I told him that would be fine because I’m used to sitting in seats like that in the Convo. All he asked that I do is say nice things about him on this board. So….
STF is a nice man who lets a common fan ride on a nice bus with nice seats. Vive STF!!!
I heard you have to sit on his lap the whole time, and you can only eat out of the palm of his hands. At least this is what 8 told me.
(10-26-2026 11:57 AM)Dog Fan Wrote: STF is a wonderful guy and a great golf cart driver/rider!
I wrote to him to ask him if I could ride on the basketball team bus to Ft. Wayne later this season. He said I could have a seat in the back of the bus. I’m so excited, even though the seat he assigned me is broken with the arm rest falling off. I told him that would be fine because I’m used to sitting in seats like that in the Convo. All he asked that I do is say nice things about him on this board. So….
STF is a nice man who lets a common fan ride on a nice bus with nice seats. Vive STF!!!
I heard you have to sit on his lap the whole time,
Does anyone know of any young up and comer maybe in a MAC institution athletic department that would be looking to move up to the AD position here. Curious to know what will be available and what type of candidate NIU can get
