If you can’t beat them, hire them as your coach.

While that wasn’t Athletic Director Jim Phillips’ mantra when selecting a coach, it’s what happened.

On Dec. 13, NIU hired former Southern Illinois University football head coach Jerry Kill for the same position at NIU.

But that wasn’t the news over winter break. The news was how Kill would fill out his staff.

Kill didn’t have to look far. The new head coach selected seven assistants from his Southern Illinois staff to join the Huskies.

Defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys; Matt Limegrover, offensive coordinator and offensive line coach; tight ends coach Brian Anderson; linebackers coach Tom Matukewicz; quarterbacks coach Pat Poore; running backs coach Rob Reeves; and Jay Sawvel, defensive backs and special teams coach, all will come to NIU via Carbondale.

Each coach was with Kill throughout his seven-year tenure at SIU. The group made five straight trips to the playoffs in the Football Championship Subdivision and one trip to the national semifinals in 2007.

Kill kept former Novak staff members wide receivers coach P.J. Fleck and defensive tackles coach Jeff Phelps on his staff.

In addition to coaching receivers, Fleck, an NIU alumnus, takes over as recruiting coordinator.

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