http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/st...id=3158996

By Mark Schlabach

Quote:Northern Illinois
The process: Longtime Huskies coach Joe Novak retired after his team finished 2-10 in his 12th season at the school. Athletic director Jim Phillips asked Novak to assist him in the search for his replacement. Novak and Phillips spent two days in Atlanta working with Parker Executive Search to finalize a list of possible candidates. Phillips said he looked at more than 1,200 résumés for the job. The finalists seemed to be South Florida assistant and former Iowa State coach Dan McCarney, Southern Illinois coach Jerry Kill and Grand Valley State coach Chuck Martin. Phillips said Kill was very impressive in his interview in Carbondale, Ill., on Dec. 9. He was hired by the Huskies three days later.
Grade: A

The hire: Kill produced quite a turnaround at Division I-AA Southern Illinois, which was considering dropping football when he arrived there in 2001. The Salukis won only five games in his first two seasons combined, but then made the I-AA national playoffs in each of the next five seasons. Kill recruited the Chicago area very well for the Salukis, which he'll have to continue to do at Northern Illinois.
Grade: B

Final analysis: The Huskies landed a coach with an impressive track record at lower levels. Kill knows the recruiting base well and should be successful.
Overall grade: B

I like the hire of Kill.

Kill's hiring is in much the same mode of Central's hiring of Kelly.

Someone in the same state who has done an excellent job and ready for the next level.

Kill should hit the ground running and have no problems with recruiting, etc.

Don't want to be trite about this, but Kill also knows the NIU players pretty well I'd think from having played NIU.

He won't have to spend weeks going over tapes to see who can and can not play.

He also knows the recruits as SIU and NIU probably recruit many of the same players.

Excellent hire. This is a 'hand in glove' choice. A natural fit.

emu steve Wrote:I like the hire of Kill.

Kill's hiring is in much the same mode of Central's hiring of Kelly.

Someone in the same state who has done an excellent job and ready for the next level.

Kill should hit the ground running and have no problems with recruiting, etc.

Don't want to be trite about this, but Kill also knows the NIU players pretty well I'd think from having played NIU.

He won't have to spend weeks going over tapes to see who can and can not play.

He also knows the recruits as SIU and NIU probably recruit many of the same players.

Excellent hire. This is a 'hand in glove' choice. A natural fit.

I just wonder what they did with my resume?

terrific hire for NIU - period

I just wonder what they did with my resume?

What a setup for some snappy comebacks! I'll spare you this time!