Nov. 26, 2007

What They're Saying About Joe Novak

"I have the greatest amount of respect for Joe. I knew he would bring to Northern what it would take to make it a successful program. He's a class act. He really has done a great job there making a program the kind of program it could be, and not just in wins. Joe's the kind of person you want your son to play for. I can't say enough about him as a person and a coach. To see the great career he's had in the coaching profession, he's had an outstanding career. He did it the right way and that's what you like to see."

- Bill Mallory, Former Northern Illinois and Indiana University Head Coach

"Coach Novak is the consummate professional. His relationships with players, our fans, and the media were all handled with class and dignity. I truly learned a great deal from him and am grateful to have played for him. One of the greatest things I learned was whether you or up or down, that you always handle things with dignity and respect. That is what Coach Novak is all about."

- Garrett Wolfe, Chicago Bears Running Back (NIU, 2004-06)

"It's a sad day for the Huskie family as Joe Novak retires as the head football coach at NIU. I was honored and privileged to be a part of the Novak era at NIU as he not only rebuilt a program, but built a Huskie family that we can all be proud of."

- Doug Free, Dallas Cowboys Offensive Lineman (NIU, 2003-06)

"My wife Alicia and I speak of coach Novak with respect. What he accomplished at NIU was inspiring. Every weekend we are in some NFL city with Justin, the Northern story and Joe's leadership is replayed fondly."

- John McCareins, father of New York Jets wide receiver Justin McCareins (NIU, 1997-2000)

"Coach Joe Novak has become one of the outstanding leaders in our Association. He has shown that he not only cares for the student-athletes, but for the great game of football as well. Coach Novak will be missed in our profession, but he is deeply appreciated."

- Grant Teaff, Executive Director, The American Football Coaches Association

"Joe Novak epitomizes the highest values and ideals of the coaching profession. He has touched literally thousands of young people who play the great sport of football, and every one of them is both a better player and a better person because of that. The same can be said for the hundreds of coaches who have worked with Joe as well.

"His lifetime impact on Mid- American Conference has been profound, and while he doesn't personally think in terms of legacies, his name has been permanently and positively etched as one of the greats in MAC football history."

- Rick Chryst, Commissioner, Mid-American Conference

"Joe Novak personifies class in a college football coach. He has been a true role model for me and many coaches in this league and around the country,"

- Bill Cubit, Western Michigan Head Coach

"Joe Novak is an outstanding person who has meant a great deal to the game of college football. He is a great friend and mentor to me, and it has been a privilege coaching in the Mid- American Conference with Coach Novak. He has run his program with the utmost integrity, and is one of the great men in college coaching. He has been a very positive influence on all the student- athletes he has coached, all the coaches who have worked with him, and all the people who have been associated with him. The game of college football will sorely miss Coach Novak."

- Brady Hoke, Ball State Head Coach

"As fine a football coach as Joe Novak has proven himself to be; he's an even better person. He has taken Northern Illinois to another level and leaves us now having positioned the Huskies for even greater success in the future. I cannot even begin to count the times that media from opposing schools have commented about how great it must be to work with him week in and week out. They were right! I wish for Joe many, many years of relaxation and, of course, a World's Championship for his Cleveland Indians."

- Bill Baker, Huskie Radio Network

"I have the utmost respect and regard for Joe Novak, not just for what he has done with the program at Northern Illinois in terms of work ethic and toughness, but also because he is one of the highest character persons I have ever had the pleasure to be associated with. He exemplifies the true definition of a coach and has been a great representative for head coaches in general, Northern Illinois University and the Mid- American Conference. Joe is an individual who I've tried to mold our program after, especially in the areas of work ethic, toughness and a standard of high character. I wish him luck in his next endeavors and I'm sorry to see him go."

- Butch Jones, Central Michigan Head Coach

"In my opinion, Joe has been the best coach in the MAC for many years now. For him to establish a program where none existed before is something special. He is a person of great integrity and one of the most humble men I've ever been around. We hope to emulate his success in our program here at Kent State."

- Doug Martin, Kent State Head Coach

"I'm really happy for Joe and his lovely wife Carole. He is a very good friend. I know this was a hard decision for him. I only worked with him for two seasons, but I've known him for many, many more years. He is an outstanding person, an outstanding coach as is evidenced by the large numbers of his players who would come back to the program and who always spoke so highly of him. He had a big impact on many players lives. He has definitely changed the scope of Northern Illinois football."

- Steve Bernstein, Current Virginia Assistant Coach, Former Huskie Assistant Coach (2004-05)

"To me, coach Novak is like a father. He was a father figure to all of the players. He was the backbone of what the Huskie program is. He was what the program stood for. The reason the program turned around and became a very good program is because of the person coach Novak was and still is today. It is a bittersweet day. We are all happy for him that his career has finally come to an end and that he has enjoyed all of the success he has had, but we will certainly miss him."

- Levern Belin, Current Virginia Assistant Coach, Former Huskie Assistant Coach (2004)