Feb. 28, 2008

"Jim Phillip's decision to accept a new challenge in the athletic administration of Northwestern University is met with bittersweet acceptance here at NIU. Jim has been an outstanding member of the NIU family, accomplishing great things for Huskie Athletics and always setting the best possible example for his staff and our student-athletes. At the same time, Jim's strong family connection to the Evanston area made the Northwestern offer a natural one for him to consider. I have personally appreciated Jim's assistance during the past two weeks as we have wrestled with an overwhelming campus tragedy. The same steady hand that has guided our athletic program to new heights over the past four years was an invaluable help to all of us in a time of great uncertainty and distress.

"Jim's tenure at NIU will be marked by a number of key accomplishments: unprecedented academic success of our student-athletes, success in private fundraising, construction of new facilities, outstanding hires in key coaching positions and enhanced institutional profile chief among them. We are very grateful for all his contributions and wish Jim and Laura and their family the very best as they move on into this exciting new phase of their lives.

"Jim will remain in his position as NIU Athletic Director until mid-April. In the meantime, we will immediately launch a national search for his replacement. While we have no timetable for completion of that search, we do expect an excellent pool of candidates for what has become one of college athletics' most envied top positions."

-- NIU --

To see the complete release from Northwestern, click here or go to www.nusports.com.