| Northern Illinois Huskies | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | Northern Illinois University |
| Conference | Mid-American (primary) Missouri Valley (men's soccer) Horizon League (primary; starting July 1, 2026) Mountain West (football & women's gymnastics; starting July 1, 2026) Pac 12 (wrestling; starting July 1, 2026) |
| NCAA | Division I (FBS) |
| Athletic director | Sean Frazier |
| Location | DeKalb, Illinois |
| Varsity teams | 17 (7 men’s, 10 women’s) |
| Football stadium | Huskie Stadium |
| Basketball arena | NIU Convocation Center |
| Baseball stadium | Ralph McKinzie Field |
| Softball stadium | Mary M. Bell Field |
| Soccer stadium | NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex |
| Other venues | Huskie Tennis Courts North 40 Cross Country Course Rich Harvest Farms Soldier Field Victor E. Court |
| Mascot | Victor E. Huskie (Costume)[a][2] Mission Huskie (Live mascot)[3] |
| Nickname | Huskies |
| Fight song | "Huskie Fight Song"[4] |
| Colors | Cardinal and black[5] |
| Website | www |
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TheNorthern Illinois Huskies are the athletic teams that representNorthern Illinois University (NIU). The Huskies are a member of theNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)Division I and theMid-American Conference (MAC). The athletic program is made up of seven men's sports (baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, tennis, and wrestling) and 10 women's sports (basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, tennis, track, and volleyball). The football team competes in theFootball Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
NIU began athletic competition in 1899 and were nicknamed the Profs. In the 1920s, they were referred to as the Cardinals. During the 1930s they were called Evansmen afterGeorge Evans. The Huskie mascot and nickname used today were officially chosen in 1940.
On January 7, 2025, NIU announced that they would be joining theMountain West Conference as a football-only member in 2026.[6] On February 27, NIU announced that all non-football sports would join theHorizon League in July 2026.[7]
A member of the West Division of theMid-American Conference (MAC), NIU sponsors teams in seven men's and ten women'sNCAA sanctioned sports.[8]
| Men's sports | Women's sports |
|---|---|
| Baseball | Basketball |
| Basketball | Cross country |
| Football | Golf |
| Golf | Gymnastics |
| Soccer | Soccer |
| Tennis | Softball |
| Wrestling | Tennis |
| Track and field1 | |
| Volleyball | |
| 1 – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor. | |
NIU baseball started playing in 1900. The program was disbanded from 1983 through 1990. They currently play home games at theRalph McKinzie Field in Dekalb, Illinois. They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament twice (1972, 1996).
Championships
NIU men's basketball started playing in 1900. They currently play home games at theNIU Convocation Center in DeKalb, Illinois. They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament three times (1982,1991,1996).
Championships
NIU football started playing in 1899. They have won one National Championship, have won 12 football conference titles, and have appeared in 16 Division I-A and College Division Bowl Games.
Championships
NIU men's golf team currently plays its home matches atRich Harvest Farms inSugar Grove, Illinois, where it hosted the2017 NCAA Men's Golf Championship. The team has won the Mid-American Conference Golf title in 1976, 1985, and 2023. The Huskies also qualified for the 1976 NCAA Golf tournament.
Championships
NIU men's soccer started playing in 1962. They currently play their home games at theNIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex. They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament four times (1973,2006,2011,2021).
With the MAC discontinuing its men's soccer league after the 2022 season, NIU moved that sport to theMissouri Valley Conference for 2023 and beyond.
NIU men's tennis team has had six players qualify for the NCAA tournament, one player twice and another player three times (1963, 1968, 1970–1973, 1987). They currently play their home matches at the NIU West Tennis Courts.
Championships
NIU Wrestling started in 1931, and first started competing in theDivision I (NCAA) in 1969. The team had 9 NCAA All-Americans and 96 wrestlers qualify for the NCAA tournament, with two winning the NCAA title. Three other Huskie Wrestlers won the NAIA championship (1958 (@123), 1961 (@167), 1961 (@177))
Ryan Ludwig (three-time NAIA All-American and a national finalist at 157 pounds) is currently in his 3rd season as head coach for the Huskies.[9] Completed in the fall of 2008, the NIU Wrestling Training Complex features everything a student-athlete needs to reach the highest levels on and off the mat.[10]
Championships
NIU women's softball started playing in 1959. They currently play their home games at Mary M. Bell Field. They have made two NCAA Regional appearances (1988, 1996) and one appearance in theWomen's College World Series (1988).
Championships
NIU women's basketball started playing in 1957. They currently play home games at theNIU Convocation Center in Dekalb, Illinois. They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament five times (1990,1992,1993,1994,1995). They have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) two times (1991,2017).
Championships
NIU women's soccer started playing in 1993. They currently play their home games at theNIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex.
Championships
NIU women's volleyball started playing in 1970. They currently play home games at theNIU Convocation Center in Dekalb, Illinois. They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament seven times (1993,1996,1997,1998,2001,2011,2016). They appeared in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) three times (1991, 1992, 1994).
Championships
NIU women's tennis team started playing in 1974. They currently play their home matches at the NIU West Tennis Courts.
Championships
NIU women's gymnastics started competing in 1978. They currently compete at theNIU Convocation Center in Dekalb, Illinois.
Championships
NIU women's golf team currently plays its home matches atRich Harvest Farms inSugar Grove, Illinois, where it hosted the 2017NCAA Women's Golf Championship.
NIU women's outdoor track and field team currently competes at theNIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex. The women's indoor track and field team competes atNIU Convocation Center.
NIU women's cross country team first competed for one year in 1981. The program was reinstated in 1995.
| Sport | Association | Division | Year | Opponent/Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's cross country (1) | NCAA | College | 1958 | South Dakota State | 90–93 (-3) |
NIU Hockey was founded in 1965. The Huskies playcollege ice hockey in theMid-American Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA) conference of theAmerican Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), ACHA Division 2 and ACHA Division 3. NIU was an ACHA D2 Regional Qualifier in 2013 and won three consecutive MACHA Bronze Division Championships, from the 2014–15 season through the 2016–17 season.
Championships
NIU Rugby Football was founded in 1968 and playscollege rugby in the Mid-American Conference of Division 1-AA. The Huskies are led by Head Coach Kris Osterloh.[11] The Huskies reached the 2013 D1-AA national playoffs, but lost toLindenwood in the round of 16.
NIU Cheerleading consists of two teams, All Girl and Large Coed. Both teams perform at football games, basketball games, and at the NCA College Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida. In 2016, both teams made it to finals with the All-Girl team Finishing in 5th while the Large Coed team place 6th in the D1A Division.
2016
All Girl: 5th
Large Coed: 6th
2015
Large Coed: 5th
The NIU Athletics Hall of Fame first started in 1978. There has been an annual class induction since 1983. Women were inducted starting in 1986. There are currently 207 individuals and 17 teams enshrined in the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame.[12]
The NIU Huskies are represented by both Victor E. Huskie (a person wearing aSiberian Husky costume) and Mission (a live Siberian Husky).[1][13] The Mission program establishing a series of live dogs as mascots was started by the NIU Foundation in 2012.[14] As of 2023, three dogs (Mission I, Mission II, and Mission III) have served in this role. Mission III was introduced in 2023.[15]
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