Let the search begin.

With the announcement of Joe Novak’s retirement Monday, NIU athletics director Jim Phillips has the task of looking for and recruiting a new head coach.

“The search process begins tonight,” Phillips said at Monday’s press conference. “There is no timetable: Two days, two weeks, two months. We will work feverishly to find a replacement.”

Novak will continue to lead the team in its off-season workouts until a new head coach is named. However, he will not be involved in recruiting. Since his contract doesn’t expire until this summer, Novak will remain at NIU until June 30, 2008, as a special assistant to Phillips.

“This summer, Novak and I agreed we wouldn’t have any conversation about the future of NIU football until after the season,” Phillips said. “Selfishly, I don’t want to see him go but he will absolutely be involved [in looking for a new head coach].”

Considered to be one of the top jobs in the MAC, Phillips has his work cut out for him in looking for Novak’s replacement.

Some early names that have popped up are Purdue assistant coach Mark Hagenn, as well as University of South Florida assistant Dan McCarney. Sons of former NIU coach Bill Mallory, Doug and Mike Mallory, are also possible candidates. Doug is the defensive backs coach at Louisiana State and Mike is the secondary coach at Louisville.

Former NIU defensive coordinator under Novak and current Stanford defensive coordinator, Scott Shafer is another possible replacement.

“We’ve never had to make a transition like this,” NIU wide receiver Britt Davis said. “We’ve had to make the transition from a different coaching staff, but to have a different head coach come in will be a little difficult and a little weird around here. But I have complete trust and confidence in President [John] Peters and Jim Phillips that they will get the right guy in here to get this thing going.”

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