WILDCAT STAFF HEAD COACH PAT FITZGERALD............................................................................ 108-111 assistant head coach jerry brown................................................................. 112 defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz . ......................................................... 113 offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach mick mccall.................... 114 Linebackers Coach Randy Bates........................................................................ 115 offensive Line coach/recruiting coordinator adam cushing............. 116 superbacks coach bob heffner........................................................................ 117 wide receivers coach/ passing game coordinator kevin johns.......... 118 defensive line coach marty long..................................................................... 120 running backs coach matt macpherson.......................................................... 119 Graduate Assistants............................................................................................... 121 wildcat support staff....................................................................................121-125
A Run
For The Roses Unable to play in the ’96
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o matter what the setting, Pat Fitzgerald invariably feels comfortable It is not surprising that Fitzgerald’s arrival on campus in 1993 using his passion, unwavering set of core values and outward coincided with the renaissance of Northwestern’s football program. Since enthusiasm to inspire and improve those around him. 1995, the Wildcats have won three Big Ten titles (only Michigan and Ohio It’s apparent to anyone who has watched Fitzgerald join in his squad’s State have won more in the last 14 years) and won six or more games in linebacker drills during practice to demonstrate proper tackling form. Or eight of those 14 seasons. to the hundreds of Northwestern freshmen to whom Fitzgerald teaches the The program has steadily gained momentum in the three years right way to sing the school fight song at the start of each academic year. It’s since Fitzgerald took over as head coach, starting with a challenging 4-8 even clear to members of the state government of Illinois, whom this winter campaign in 2006, when just weeks before the season began, Walker’s death invited Fitzgerald to serve on the Illinois Reform Commission aimed at rocked the NU football program and Fitzgerald assumed the head coaching rooting out political corruption. position. In 2007, the Wildcats achieved bowl-eligibility with a 6-6 mark. That passion also was a primary factor in Fitzgerald’s Hall-of-Fame Northwestern, however, did not play in a postseason game due to a lack playing career at Northwestern, when he was a two-time Bronko Nagurski of bowl slots for Big Ten teams. (A league-record 10 Big Ten squads were and Chuck Bednarik Award winner and team leader of NU’s back-to-back bowl-eligible in 2007.) Northwestern returned to the top of the league in Big Ten title-winning teams in the mid-’90’s. The ’Cats posted a two-year offense in 2007, leading the Big Ten in total offense for the regular season. Big Ten record of 15-1 and made appearances in the 1995 Rose Bowl and This past year, a dramatically improved defense and much improved 1996 Citrus Bowl with Fitzgerald serving as the centerpiece of a defense special teams play led the ’Cats back to a bowl game, their first since taking that ranked among the nation’s best. on UCLA in the 2005 Sun Bowl. Although Fitzgerald’s passion and commitment NU touted the nation’s fifth-most improved to excellence may be difficult to quantify, his positive scoring defense and the Wildcats set a single“I want to thank Jim Phillips, impact in Northwestern’s on-field performance since season school record for rushing defense (126.4 President Bienen, Chairman of the he took the reins as head coach in 2006 is not. ypg), breaking the mark that Fitzgerald and his Board Pat Ryan, our coaches and our In 2009, Fitzgerald guided NU to a nine-win teammates established in 1995. NU’s 5-0 season players for their tremendous support season and a berth in the Valero Alamo Bowl—an start in 2008 was its best since the 1962 campaign, overtime thriller against Missouri—as the Wildcats when the Wildcats were 6-0 and ranked No. 1 in and trust they’ve given me. It’s no earned bowl eligibility for the third time in four the nation. secret that I want to be the head seasons. Fitzgerald was named the Big Ten Coach Off the field, the Wildcats are enjoying football coach at Northwestern for of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Columbus, unprecedented academic success. The past three many years to come.” a semifinalist for the George Munger Coach of the years, Northwestern has set program-bests with 16 Year Award and a finalist for the Liberty Mutual Academic All-Big Ten selections in 2006, Coach of the Year Award. 18 Academic All-Big Ten honorees in 2007 and An assistant football coach for the Wildcats from 2001 through the a school-record 26 last year. And for the first time in school history, the summer of 2006, Fitzgerald was named Northwestern’s 29th head coach football team registered a combined team grade point average above a 3.0 on July 7, 2006, succeeding Randy Walker, who died suddenly on June for the 2009 spring quarter. 29, 2006. He was the youngest head football coach among Football Bowl In addition, Northwestern continues to lead or rank near the Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) schools until Lane Kiffin (six months top of the country in annual graduation rate. Four times since 2002, younger) was hired by the University of Tennessee on Dec. 1, 2008. Northwestern has captured the AFCA’s Academic Achievement Award, By no means was this the circumstance that Fitzgerald envisioned which is given to the top FBS football program for graduation rate. For when landing his dream job, but when the Northwestern administration the past two years, Northwestern has recorded a near-perfect 992 (out of asked him to succeed Walker, he knew he was prepared for the opportunity. 1,000) Academic Progress Rate (APR) index—the newest NCAA academic “While this has been my goal from the moment I began coaching, it measuring stick. was also bittersweet,” said Fitzgerald, who has posted a 19-18 record in his But the Northwestern student-athlete experience is not complete first three seasons as NU’s head mentor. “We’re continuing Coach Walker’s until one makes a significant contribution to the campus and Evanston legacy and building upon his successes. Northwestern will continue to have communities, which is why so many of Fitzgerald’s players have been a football program built upon great work ethic, attitude and investment.” recognized for what they’ve managed to give back. Fitzgerald, his family In June of 2009, NU Director of Athletics and Recreation Jim Phillips and his players partake in countless charitable events in the area, including announced that Fitzgerald and the school had agreed to a new seven-year NU’s annual campus-wide Dance Marathon. 2009 graduate Eric Peterman deal that will keep him on the Northwestern sidelines through 2015. received the National ARA Sportsmanship Award for his off-the-field “I want to thank Jim Phillips, President Bienen, Chairman of the efforts while a number of Wildcats have been named NU’s Hilton Garden Board Pat Ryan, our coaches and our players for their tremendous support Inn Community Service Athlete of the Week for their contributions to toy and trust they’ve given me,” said Fitzgerald. “It’s no secret that I want to be drives, health and wellness programs in elementary schools and other local the head football coach at Northwestern for many years to come.” initiatives.
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Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach
HEAD COACH PAT FITZGERALD “It’s just being the best person you can be,” said senior defensive end and All-America candidate Corey Wootton. “That’s what Coach Fitz strives for. Giving back.” In 1995, Fitzgerald was the leader of a suffocating Wildcat defense that led the nation in scoring defense and anchored NU’s storybook run to the Big Ten championship and Rose Bowl. He ended the year by being named winner of both the Nagurski and Bednarik Awards as the nation’s top defensive player. He also was the Big Ten, Chevrolet and Sports Illustrated Defensive Player of the Year. Fitzgerald accomplished all of this, despite the fact that he broke his leg in the second-to-last regularseason game. Fitzgerald recovered from that injury, and in 1996 he again led the Wildcats to a share of the Big Ten title. As a result, he once again won the Nagurski and Bednarik Awards, becoming the first two-time winner of both honors. Fitzgerald also was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year again, and Linebacker of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Columbus. He also was the recipient of Northwestern’s George Ballantine Jr., Memorial Leadership Award. A two-time first-team All-American, Fitzgerald started 23 career games and totaled 299 tackles, including 20 for loss. He also forced five fumbles and intercepted three passes. Fitzgerald signed a free-agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys following his Northwestern career, and played in three preseason games before taking a one-year hiatus from football. Prior to his return to Northwestern, Fitzgerald was a defensive graduate assistant at Maryland (1998) and Colorado (1999) before taking his first full-time position at the University of Idaho in 2000. In 2001, Walker brought Fitzgerald back to Evanston, hiring him to coach the Wildcats’ defensive secondary. In 2002, he moved to linebackers coach, and then in 2004, added the recruiting coordinator to his title. Named one of college football’s top recruiters by SI.com in 2005, Fitzgerald played an integral role in both coaching and recruiting during his five years as a Northwestern assistant. He mentored two-time All-Big Ten linebacker and former St. Louis Ram Tim McGarigle, the all-time leading tackler in NCAA history. In February 2003, Fitzgerald was inducted into Northwestern’s Athletic Hall of Fame. In addition to his January 2009 appointment to the Illinois Reform Commission, Fitzgerald was named to the AFCA’s Ethics Committee. He begins his term in the fall of 2009. A native of Orland Park, Ill., and a graduate of Carl Sandburg High School, Fitzgerald resides in Evanston with his wife, Stacy, and three sons, Jack, born in November 2004, Ryan, born in September 2006, and Brendan, born in February 2009.
FITZGERALD AT-A-GLANCE Born
December 2, 1974
Alma Mater
Northwestern University, 1997
Degrees Bachelor’s Degree Organizational Studies Playing Experience Linebacker, Northwestern, 1993-96 Coaching Maryland, 1998 Experience Defensive Graduate Assistant Colorado, 1999 Defensive Graduate Assistant Idaho, 2000 Linebackers/Special Teams Northwestern, 2001 Defensive Backs Northwestern, 2002-03 Linebackers Northwestern, 2004-05 Linebackers/Recruiting Coordinator Northwestern, 2006-present Head Coach Family
Wife; Stacy; Sons, Jack, Ryan and Brendan
FITZGERALD’S HONORS COACHING
• 2008 Top-10 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Finalist • Semifinalist for 2008 Munger Coach of the Year Award • Touchdown Club of Columbus 2008 Big Ten Coach of the Year
• 1995 and 1996 Chuck Bednarik Award Winner • 1995 and 1996 Bronko Nagurski Award Winner • 1995 and 1996 First-Team A.P. All-American • 1996 American Football Coaches Association First-Team All-American • 1996 Touchdown Club of Columbus Linebacker of the Year • 1996 Walter Camp All-American • 1995 Chevrolet Defensive Player of the Year • 1995 Sports Illustrated Defensive Player of the Year • Four-Time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week Honoree • 2003 Northwestern and 2008 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee
• 1996 Rose Bowl^ (Northwestern); 1997 Citrus Bowl^ (Northwestern); 1999 Insight.com (Colorado); 2003; Motor City (Northwestern); 2005 Sun (Northwestern); 2008 Alamo (Northwestern)
PLAYING
BOWL EXPERIENCE
^ as a player at Northwestern
Youngest FBS Division Head Football Coaches Coach Lane Kiffin Pat Fitzgerald David Elson Mario Cristobal Bret Bielema Al Golden
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Stacy, Brendan, Jack, Pat and Ryan Fitzgerald
*as of Sept. 1, 2009
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*Age
D.O.B.
School
34 34 38 38 39 40
05/09/75 12/02/74 08/26/71 09/24/70 01/13/70 07/04/69
Tennessee Northwestern Western Kentucky Florida International Wisconsin Temple
Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT PAT FITZGERALD Gary Barnett, former Northwestern head coach (1992-98) “Pat personifies Northwestern football. The honors he received as a player, the way he handled himself as a studentathlete and the name he has made for himself in the college football world, makes it a real natural fit for Northwestern. Pat loves Northwestern; he will be a guy that the Northwestern community can count on to represent them for years and years.”
Tom Cable, Oakland Raiders, head coach Tom Cable was Idaho’s head football coach in 2000 and hired Pat as a full-time assistant, Pat’s first full-time position. “Pat Fitzgerald provides a tremendous passion for those players and the entire Northwestern family. With his integrity and vision, Northwestern is very fortunate to have Pat leading them.”
Tim McGarigle, former Wildcat and Mark Murphy, Green Bay Packers NFL linebacker President “As a young linebacker, Coach Fitzgerald Mark Murphy is Northwestern’s was my mentor not only athletically, but former Athletic Director who hired Pat Everyone from national commentators to coaches and players nationwide have also academically and socially. He firmly great things to say about Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald to replace Randy Walker believes in not only making you the best “Pat had a tremendous career as a player football player you can be, but also the and continues to do great things for college football. Pat was a talented best man. As the head coach at one of the best schools in the nation, Coach athlete, and was instrumental is reviving the Northwestern program, but Fitz is mentoring an entire football team. That is extremely appealing to what really sets him apart is his passion for football and life.” anyone who wants to play football at Northwestern.” Ron Vanderlinden, Penn State University, linebacker coach Ron Vanderlinden was NU’s linebacker coach during Pat’s playing days in Evanston “Pat played with tremendous passion and a relentless resolve. He also was a natural leader and team captain who motivated all around him to raise their levels of play. As I have watched Pat grow as a coach, I see these same qualities in Pat and the players he coaches. Pat is a fun person to be around, he is committed to his family and grounded in his faith. Pat Fizgerald is a winner.” Frank Lenti, Mt. Carmel High School, head coach “Pat is the stereotypical up-and-comer. What he accomplished on the field as a player transitioned into becoming a great coach and he did all that at Northwestern. He has talked-the-talk and walked-the-walk at NU and I look forward to what he will accomplish in Evanston.”
Keegan Kennedy, 2008 NU graduate “I know that Coach Fitz has molded me into the best football player I could be and the best man I could be. I have so much respect for Coach Fitzgerald and the job he has done that, even though my time on the team is over, next season can’t get here soon enough.” Tom Lemming, national recruiting commentator “Head coach Pat Fitzgerald may be young but he has certainly proven to be one of the more polished and enthusiastic recruiters in the nation. There is no place he or his staff won’t go for talent, and his classes have proven that point. Northwestern under Fitzgerald has shown the ability to land blue chip athletes away from other national schools.”
WHAT FITZ IS SAYING ABOUT
“
NORTHWESTERN
It’s no secret that I want to be the head football coach at Northwestern for many years to come.
”
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COACHING STAFF JERRY BROWN 17th Season at NU 29th Overall Season Assistant Head Coach Defensive Backs Coach
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erry Brown, the dean of the Wildcat coaching staff, is in his 17th season with Northwestern. In January 2002, Brown was named assistant head coach. He also coaches the Wildcats’ defensive secondary after serving as the defensive coordinator from 1999 to 2001. Brown’s coaching career includes stops at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. Before his return to Evanston in 1993, he served as an assistant on Jerry Burns’ staff with the Minnesota Vikings, tutoring wide receivers in 1988 and 1989 and defensive backs in 1990 and 1991. The Vikings’ defensive unit held opponents to the lowest passing yardage in the NFC in 1990. Before moving to the professional ranks, Brown served eight seasons as an assistant coach at Cal State Fullerton. He mentored the Titans’ wide receivers and also was the offensive coordinator for his final five years on BOWL EXPERIENCE the staff. Brown coached defensive backs at Eastern Illinois for three • 1996 Rose (Northwestern) years (1977-79) and was at his • 1997 Citrus (Northwestern) high school alma mater, Roosevelt, • 2000 Alamo (Northwestern) in Kent, Ohio, from 1973-77. • 2003 Motor City (Northwestern) He began his coaching career as a • 2005 Sun (Northwestern) graduate assistant at NU in 1972 • 2008 Alamo (Northwestern) under head coach Alex Agase. In 1995, Brown’s secondary was one of the main reasons that NU led the country in scoring defense (12.7) and was third in turnover margin (+1.82). Three of his defensive backs from that year, Rodney Ray, Hudhaifa Ismaeli and Chris Martin, earned All-Big Ten honors. In 2005, two of Brown’s players—Marquice Cole and Herschel Henderson—earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. Led by its secondary, NU equaled a school record with 20 interceptions in 2005. In 2006, Brown coached Sherrick McManis, a member of Sporting News’ Big Ten All-Freshman Team. McManis ended the 2006 season with 22 tackles (16 solo), five pass breakups and one interception. His first career interception came against Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith. Brown’s defensive back unit was a huge part of Northwestern’s defensive resurgence in 2008, helping the Wildcats rank 25th in the nation in pass efficiency defense. The three upperclassmen in the unit (Sherrick McManis, Brad Phillips and Brendan Smith) earned All-Big Ten recognition while freshman Jordan Mabin was named to Rivals.com, Phil Steele, Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Sporting News Freshman All-America squads. Brown lettered in his sophomore and junior seasons with the Wildcats as a wide receiver, catching 24 passes for 442 yards and two touchdowns. He played defensive back as a senior, earning secondteam All-Big Ten honors and helping Northwestern finish second in the conference. That year, he set the then-single-season record for pass breakups (12). Brown was selected in the ninth round of the 1972 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers. He graduated from Northwestern’s School of Education with a bachelor’s degree in 1972. He and his wife, Denise (a 1974 Northwestern graduate), have a son, Jerry, and daughter, Kimberly. The Browns reside in Evanston.
BROWN AT-A-GLANCE Born
September 28, 1949
Alma Mater
Northwestern University, 1972
Degrees Bachelor’s Degree School of Education Playing Experience Wide Receiver, Northwestern, 1969-70 Defensive Back, 1971 Collegiate Coaching Northwestern, 1972 Experience Graduate Assistant/Defensive Backs Eastern Illinois, 1977-79 Defensive Backs Cal State Fullerton, 1980-82 Wide Receivers Cal State Fullerton, 1983-87 Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers Northwestern, 1993-96 Defensive Backs Northwestern, 1997-98 Co-Defensive Coordinator Northwestern, 1999-2001 Defensive Coordinator Northwestern, 2002-present Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Backs Professional Minnesota Vikings, 1988-89 Coaching Wide Receivers Minnesota Vikings, 1990-91 Defensive Backs Family Wife, Denise; Daughter, Kimberly; Son, Jerry Prominent Players Coached
Louis Ayeni, Harold Blackmon, Marquice Cole, Chris Martin, Rodney Ray, Marvin Ward
Brown’s Recruiting Areas
Chicago, Southern California (Los Angeles), Texas (Waco, Austin and San Antonio), Alabama and Mississippi
Denise and Jerry Brown
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COACHING STAFF Mike hankwitz Second Season at NU 40th Overall Season Defensive Coordinator
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eteran defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz is in his second year at NU, also assisting with safeties and in other aspects of the program. Hankwitz had a huge impact in 2008, making the Wildcats’ defense the fifth-most improved in the nation. After allowing 31.0 points per game in 2007, NU surrendered 20.2 in 2008 to rank 27th in the country and fourth in the Big Ten. NU also ranked in the top-30 nationally in sacks (18th), pass efficiency defense (25th) and TFLs (28th). The Wildcats posted 20 defensive shutout quarters and held four opponents to under 100 yards rushing—including a BOWL EXPERIENCE school-record four yards against Ohio. Hankwitz has served as defensive • 1971 Rose (Michigan) coordinator at six schools (Western • 1978 Peach (Purdue) Michigan, Colorado [two times], • 1979 Bluebonnet (Purdue) Kansas, Texas A&M, Arizona and • 1980 Liberty (Purdue) Wisconsin) since 1982. He spent • 1985 Freedom (Colorado) 2006-07 with the Badgers, touting one • 1986 Bluebonnent (Colorado) of the nation’s top defenses in 2006. • 1988 Freedom (Colorado) • 1989 Orange (Colorado) Wisconsin was No. 1 nationally in • 1990 Orange (Colorado) pass efficiency defense (84.19 rating, • 1991 Blockbuster (Colorado) third-lowest in Big Ten history), No. 2 • 1992 Fiesta (Colorado) in scoring defense (12.1 ppg) and fifth • 1993 Aloha (Colorado) in total defense (253.1 ypg). • 1994 Fiesta (Colorado) Prior to UW, Hankwitz spent two • 1995 Aloha (Kansas) • 1997 Cotton (Texas A&M) seasons as defensive coordinator and • 1998 Sugar (Texas A&M) outside LB coach at Colorado. He • 1999 Alamo (Texas A&M) served as the program’s interim head • 2000 Independence (Texas A&M) coach for the Buffaloes’ 2005 Champs • 2001 Galleryfurniture.com (TAMU) Sports Bowl game against Clemson. • 2004 Houston (Colorado) CU won the Big 12 North Division • 2005 Champs Sports (Colorado) title in both 2004 and 2005. Hankwitz • 2006 Capital One (Wisconsin) • 2007 Outback (Wisconsin) had moved to Colorado after serving • 2008 Alamo (Northwestern) as Arizona’s defensive coordinator (and later interim head coach) in 2003. Hankwitz was the defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach at Texas A&M (1997-2002) where he guided the Aggies’ famed “Wrecking Crew” defense. During that span he had three top-10 ranked defenses, two in the top-20, won two South Division and one Big 12 title. Hankwitz spent two seasons (1995-96) as defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach at Kansas. The ’95 Jayhawks recorded the school’s first 10-win season since 1905 and ranked 10th in the final national polls. Hankwitz enjoyed a highly successful 10-year run in his first tenure with Colorado (1985-94). After coaching outside linebackers and punters his first three years with the Buffs, he was named the program’s defensive coordinator in 1988. Colorado put together the nation’s fifth-best record (58-11-4) from 1989-94, including a national title in 1990, three Big 8 titles, two appearances each in the Orange and Fiesta Bowls, and six national top-20 rankings (with three top-five finishes). The Buffs’ 1989 and 1991 teams set the school record for fewest points allowed (150). He was defensive coordinator at Western Michigan from 1982-84. The 1982 WMU defense allowed 72 points, the fewest in Division I. He coached outside linebackers and punting at Purdue (1977-81) after coaching outside linebackers and the secondary at Arizona (1973-76).
HANKWITZ AT-A-GLANCE Born
December 14, 1947
Alma Mater
Michigan, 1970
Degrees Bachelor’s Degree Education Playing Experience Tight End, Michigan, 1967-69 Coaching Michigan, 1970-72 Experience Defensive Graduate Assistant Arizona, 1973-76 Outside Linebackers/Defensive Backs Purdue, 1977-81 Outside Linebackers/Punters Western Michigan, 1982-84 Defensive Coordinator Colorado, 1985-94 Defensive Coordinator Kansas, 1995-96 Defensive Coordinator Texas A&M, 1997-2002 Defensive Coordinator Arizona, 2003 Defensive Coordinator Colorado, 2004-05 Defensive Coordinator Wisconsin, 2006-07 Defensive Coordinator Northwestern, 2008 Defensive Coordinator Family
Wife, Kathy; Son, Jacob
Prominent Players Coached Hankwitz’s Recruiting Areas
David Tate, Alfred Williams, Dean Figures, Chad Brown, Ronnie Bradford, Chris Hudson, Dat Nguyen, Lance Briggs, Warrick Holdman, Jason Webster, Edward Jasper, Rocky Bernard, Keena Turner Downstate Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Canada
Mike, Jacob and Kathy Hankwitz
Hankwitz began his coaching career as a graduate assistant (197072) at Michigan under Bo Schembechler. As a player at Michigan, he earned three letters and started on the 1969 Big Ten championship Rose Bowl squad. Hankwitz earned a bachelor’s of science degree in education. He was born in Ludington, Mich., and graduated from Mason County (Scottville, Mich.) Central High School, where he lettered in four sports: football, basketball, track and baseball. He and his wife, Cathy, have a son, Jacob.
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COACHING STAFF Mick McCALL Second Season at NU 21st Overall Season Offensive Coordinator Quarterbacks Coach
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ick McCall is in his second season as the ’Cats’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He joined NU on Jan. 17, 2008. McCall helped NU to a 9-4 record in 2008 while dealing with a bevy of injuries to NU offensive standouts. Quarterback C.J. Bachér finished second in the Big Ten in total offense. When an injury kept for him out for two games, McCall tweaked the offense to allow Mike Kafka to break the Big Ten record for rushing yards by a QB with 217 at Minnesota. McCall’s spread offense truly spread out the ball in 2008, with 14 different Wildcat catching passes. Eric Peterman (an All-Big Ten honoree) and Ross Lane led a group of eight ’Cats with double-digit grabs. Keeping NU’s tradition of running from the spread, McCall saw great production from Tyrell Sutton before an injury kept him out of the final four regular-season games. Sutton averaged 98.9 yards per game rushing and also was the team’s fourth-leading receiver to earn All-Big Ten honors. McCall spent 2007 as the BOWL EXPERIENCE offensive coordinator at Bowling Green State University, averaging over 400 • 2003 Motor City (Bowling Green) yards per game (402.5 ypg). Prior to • 2004 GMAC (Bowling Green) ’07, McCall spent four years as BGSU’s • 2007 GMAC (Bowling Green) quarterbacks coach, and mentored • 2008 Alamo (Northwestern) All-Americans Josh Harris (2003) and Omar Jacobs (2004). In 2004, Jacobs had the best year ever for a Falcon QB, setting an NCAA record by throwing an NCAA-best and MAC-record 41 TD passes with just four interceptions, the best TD/interception ratio in college football history. Jacobs also was named MAC Offensive Player of the Year while completing 309-of-462 passes for 4,002 yards. He also led the nation in points responsible for at 22.5 per game and was second in the nation in passing (333.5 ypg) and total offense (358.5). In 2005, Jacobs led the MAC in total offense (294.7 ypg) and was second in TD passes with 26. Harris, who quarterbacked the Falcons in the 2003 Motor City Bowl against Northwestern, completed 325-of-494 passes (65.8 percent) for a then-school-record 3,813 yards and 27 TD’s. He also had 830 yards rushing and ranked third nationally in total offense (331.1 ypg). McCall began coaching in 1979 at his alma mater, Southern Colorado, as the quarterbacks and running backs coach. He then spent five seasons (1983-87) as the running backs/tight ends coach and special teams coordinator at Idaho State. From there, he joined Oregon State (1988-90) as the Beavers’ wide receivers and tight ends coach. After 10 successful years (1991-2000) as the head coach at Douglas County and J.K. Mullen high schools in Colorado, McCall spent two seasons (2001-02) as the quarterbacks/running backs coach at Wyoming before moving to BGSU. At Mullen, he led the program to a 68-17 record and a state title in 1998, earning Denver Post Coach of the Year honors. Among the more notable players McCall has coached is former Idaho State running back Merril Hoge. Hoge went on to star for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL from 1987-93 and is an NFL analyst for ESPN. McCall was a quarterback at Southern Colorado from 1975-78 where he was a two-time All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference performer and lettered in basketball. He was invited to participate in the training camp of the NFL’s Detroit Lions following his college playing career. He and his wife, JoAnne, have two daughters, Ashley and Brittany.
Mccall AT-A-GLANCE Born
April 6, 1957
Alma Mater
Southern Colorado
Degrees Bachelor’s Degree Physical Education Playing Experience
Quarterback, Southern Colorado, 1975-78 Running Back, Detroit Lions, June 1980
Coaching Southern Colorado, 1979-82 Experience Quarterbacks/Running Backs Idaho State, 1983-87 Running Backs/Tight Ends/Special Teams Oregon State, 1988-90 Wide Receivers/Tight Ends Douglas County High School, 1991-93 Head Coach J.K. Mullen High School, 1994-2000 Head Coach Wyoming, 2001-02 Quarterbacks/Running Backs Bowling Green, 2003-06 Quarterbacks Bowling Green, 2007 Offensive Coordinator Northwestern, 2008 Offensive Coordinator Family Prominent Players Coached
Wife, JoAnne; Daughters, Ashley and Brittany
McCall’s Recruiting Areas
Chicago (Far North Suburbs—North of Lake-Cook Road/East of Route 12), Arizona, Northern California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Nebraska
Merril Hoge, Josh Harris, Omar Jacobs
Brittany, Mick, JoAnne and Ashley McCall
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COACHING STAFF RANDY BATES Fourth Season at NU 28th Overall Season Linebackers Coach
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andy Bates is in his fourth season as Northwestern’s linebackers coach after a six-year stint at Louisiana Tech. Bates was Tech’s defensive coordinator/secondary coach in 2005. Bates assumed linebacker duties after Pat Fitzgerald was named Northwestern’s head coach in July of 2006. Three of NU’s top-six tacklers from 2006 were part of the linebacking corps, led by Adam Kadela’s team-high 80 tackles. Current Chicago Bears’ linebacker Nick Roach, who missed the season’s final four games because of injury, still finished fourth with 62 tackles. In 2007, Kadela ranked 21st in the nation and third in the Big Ten with 125 tackles (10.4 pg), concluding his career just four shy of the coveted 300 mark. He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. Bates’ linebacking corps was a huge part of Northwestern’s defensive resurgence in 2008. Senior Prince Kwateng ranked eighth in the Big Ten and among the nation’s leaders with 8.2 tackles per game. Bates’ linebackers earned 24.5 tackles-for-loss, including 8.5 quarterback sacks. In 2005, Bates led Louisiana Tech to one of the school’s top BOWL EXPERIENCE defensive performances in the last decade, resulting in a 7-4 overall • 2001 Humanitarian record and third-place finish in the (Louisiana Tech) WAC. The defense gave up its fewest • 2008 Alamo (Northwestern) points since 1994 and ranked fifth in the nation in turnover margin. While coaching the Louisiana Tech secondary, Bates mentored defensive back Tramon Williams who led the country in passes defensed with 19, which included 16 pass breakups and three interceptions. In his six years with the Bulldogs, Bates served in numerous capacities, all on the defensive side of the football. He worked with the entire secondary in 2000 and 2001, the cornerbacks in 2002, linebackers in 2003, the entire secondary in 2004 and finally defensive coordinator and secondary coach in 2005. Bates coached some of Louisiana Tech’s top defensive standouts, which included former Chicago Bear Bobby Gray, current Dallas Cowboy Jerron Wishom (safety) and current Green Bay Packer Tramon Williams (cornerback). Prior to Tech, Bates served as the linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at Kent State University for two years where he coached Pittsburgh Steeler James Harrison. Bates was the linebackers coach at New Hampshire from 1992 through 1997, during which time the program won three conference northern division titles and Bates coached three of the top 10 tackle leaders in school history. In 1994, New Hampshire went undefeated, won the Yankee Conference championship, was ranked No. 12 nationally in Division I-AA and reached the NCAA playoffs. He also had coaching stints at Navy (1989-1992), St. Joseph’s College (1984-1988), Miami (Ohio) (1983-84) and Muskingum College (1982-83). He earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Ohio State in 1983 and a master’s degree in education from Miami (Ohio) in 1985. Bates is a retired Naval Lieutenant. He and his wife, Tracey, have three children, Samantha, Alexandra and Olivia.
BATES AT-A-GLANCE Born
July 3, 1960
Alma Mater
Ohio State, 1983
Degrees Bachelor’s Degree Physical Education Master’s Degree, 1985 (Miami, Ohio) Education Coaching Experience Muskingum, 1982-83 Offensive Line Miami (Ohio), 1983-84 Offensive Graduate Assistant St. Joseph’s College, 1984-88 Defensive Coordinator Recruiting Coordinator Navy, 1989-92 Linebackers/Defensive Backs New Hampshire, 1992-97 Linebackers Kent State, 1997-99 Linebackers/Recruiting Coordinator Louisiana Tech, 2000-05 Defensive Backs, 2000-02 Co-Defensive Coordinator/ Linebackers, 2003 Defensive Backs, 2004 Defensive Coordinator, 2005 Northwestern, 2006-present Linebackers Family
Wife, Tracey; Daughters, Samantha, Alexandra and Olivia
Prominent Players Coached
Nick Roach, James Harrison
Bates’ Recruting Areas
Chicago (Far Northwest Suburbs—North of Lake-Cook Road, West of Route 12), Houston, East Dallas and East Texas
Clockwise from left: Randy, Samantha, Alexandra, Tracey and Olivia Bates
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COACHING STAFF ADAM CUSHING Sixth Season at NU Eighth Overall Season Offensive Line Coach Recruiting Coordinator
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dam Cushing is in his sixth season on the Wildcat staff and his fifth as a full-time assistant. In February of 2009, he was promoted to offensive line coach after serving as the Wildcats’ superbacks coach. In January of 2008, he assumed the role of recruiting coordinator. Cushing is making a name for himself on the recruiting front. In February of 2007, he was named one of Rivals.com’s Top 10 Big Ten Recruiters, helping NU sign one of its most touted classes in recent history. In 2009, ESPN.com named Cushing one of the Big Ten’s top recruiters and recruiting commentator Tom Lemming said “...there’s no place Northwestern won’t go for talent and they have shown the ability to land blue chip athletes away from other national schools.” As the Wildcats’ superbacks’ coach, Cushing mentored then-true BOWL EXPERIENCE freshman Drake Dunsmore, who was named to the Sporting News Freshman • 2005 Sun (Northwestern) All-Big Ten team in 2007. Dunsmore • 2008 Alamo (Northwestern) ranked third on the team with 12.8 yards per catch among players with 10 or more catches, picking up 141 yards on 11 receptions. After Dunsmore was hurt prior to 2008, Cushing’s crew diversified well. Josh Rooks and Brendan Mitchell each caught touchdown passes while helping block for an offense that averaged 141.8 yards on the ground per game. A native of Chicago, Cushing joined the Wildcats after spending two years as an assistant coach at the University of La Verne in La Verne, Calif. He coached tight ends in 2002 and the offensive line in 2003. Cushing is a former player at prep power Mt. Carmel High School, and went on to play at NCAA Division III University of Chicago. At Chicago, Cushing was a three-year starter at tight end and was named to the all-University Athletic Association team three consecutive years (1999-2001). He helped the Maroons win UAA titles in 1998 and 2000. Cushing was a team captain his senior year. He finished his collegiate career with 72 receptions, good enough for 10th on U of C’s career catches list. A Dean’s List honoree, Cushing graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Chicago in 2002. He completed work on his master’s degree in general education at La Verne in 2004. Cushing’s older brother, Matt, was an Academic All-Big Ten tight end at Illinois and played four years for the Illini (1994-97). He also played six seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cushing is married to Dr. Jaime Cushing, DDS. They reside in Evanston.
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CUSHING AT-A-GLANCE Born
May 29, 1980
Alma Mater
University of Chicago, 2002
Degrees Bachelor’s Degree Psychology Master’s Degree (La Verne) General Education Playing Experience
Tight End, University of Chicago, 1998-2002
Coaching Experience La Verne, 2002-04 Assistant Coach Northwestern, 2004 Graduate Assistant Northwestern, 2005-07 Tight Ends/H-Backs Northwestern, 2008 Superbacks/Recruiting Coordinator Northwestern, 2009 Offensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator Family
Wife, Jaime
Cushing’s Recruiting Areas
South Chicago (US 55 to Indiana Border), Northeast Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Tennessee
Jaime and Adam Cushing
2009 northwestern football • NUsports.com
COACHING STAFF BOB HEFFNER First Season at NU 26th Overall Season Superbacks Coach
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HEFFNER AT-A-GLANCE Born
August 2, 1956
Alma Mater
Temple, 1979
Degrees Bachelor’s Degree Secondary Education Playing Experience Offensive Guard, Temple, 1976-78
orthwestern’s most recent addition to its staff, Bob Heffner, joined NU in February of 2009 as its superbacks coach. Heffner spent the last eight seasons (2001-08) at Lafayette College, serving as the Leopards’ offensive line coach from 2001-07, before becoming Lafayette’s offensive coordinator in 2008. In 2002, Heffner was named associate head coach. In the past five years, Leopard linemen were honored 13 times for all-league play. During the 2008 season when he oversaw the Leopards’ offense, Lafayette finished 7-4, ranked second in Patriot League rushing and led the nation with the fewest turnovers. In 2006, when Lafayette won its third-straight Patriot League title and advanced to the Division I-AA BOWL EXPERIENCE playoffs, Heffner’s offensive line blocked for tailback Jonathan Hurt, • 1979 Garden State (Temple) the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year. Six times in his last eight seasons with Lafayette, the Leopards ranked either first or second in the Patriot League rushing or passing. He won three-straight Patriot League titles and went to the FCS playoffs in all three of those seasons. Heffner also had two earlier successful stints at Lafayette, which were sandwiched around four years in the professional ranks. In 1988-89 native coached the offensive line and helped the 1988 Leopards to the Patriot League title. He then worked with CFL’s British Columbia Lions (1990-92) as their co-offensive coordinator, which featured Doug Flutie, the CFL’s MVP in 1991 and Jim Mills, the two-time Most Valuable Offensive Lineman in 1990 and ’91. Heffner spent one season with the Arena Football League’s Tampa Bay Storm as their offensive coordinator and director of player personnel in 1993 before returning to Lafayette in the fall of ’93. He was the Leopards’ offensive coordinator/offensive line coach for three seasons, which included a Patriot League title in 1994. In 1996, Heffner was hired to Northern Illinois where he coached the offensive line. In early 1997, when former NU assistant coach Ron Vanderlinden was named head coach at Maryland, Heffner joined the Terrapins’ staff, coaching the tight ends and tackles for two seasons before being promoted to offensive coordinator for the 1999 and 2000 seasons. In Heffner’s first season directing Maryland’s offensive unit, the Terrapins posted the 10th-highest scoring average in school history and its best in seven previous seasons. Maryland ranked first in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and 12th nationally in rushing yards per game (234.1), and tailback LaMont Jordan earned second-team All-America honors after finishing fifth in the country in rushing. He graduated from Temple in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education before serving as a graduate assistant at his alma mater for the ’79 season. That year, the Owls played in the Garden State Bowl. Heffner then began his full-time collegiate coaching career at Illinois State as the interior defensive line coach in 1981 before taking over as offensive line coach during a seven-year stay with the Redbirds. As a student-athlete at Temple, Heffner played three years as an offensive guard and was a member of Owl teams that made Mirage Bowl appearances in 1977 and 1978. Heffner, and his wife, Nancy, a native of Warren Glen, N.J., have three daughters, Katie, Molly and Shelby.
College Coaching Temple, 1979 Experience Graduate Assistant Illinois State, 1981-87 Interior Defensive Line/Offensive Line Lafayette College, 1988-89 Offensive Line Lafayette College, 1993-95 Offensive Line/Offensive Coordinator Northern Illinois, 1996 Offensive Line Maryland, 1997-98 Tight Ends and Tackles Maryland, 1999-2000 Offensive Coordinator Lafayette College, 2001-07 Associate Head Coach/Offensive Line Lafayette College, 2008 Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator Northwestern, 2009 Superbacks Professional British Columbia Lions (CFL), 1990-92 Coaching Experience Co-Offensive Coordinator Tampa Bay Storm (Arena), 1993 Offensive Coordinator Family
Wife, Nancy; Daughters, Katie, Molly and Shelby
Prominent Players Coached
Doug Flutie, Jim Mills, Jonathan Hurt, Zachary Dixon Robert Brewer, Jim Meyer
Heffner’s Recruiting Areas
Chicago—North Suburbs, New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington D.C., New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts
Molly, Bob, Nancy, Shelby and Katie Heffner
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COACHING STAFF KEVIN JOHNS Sixth Season at NU 11th Overall Season Wide Receivers Coach Passing Game Coordinator
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evin Johns is in his sixth season as a full-time Northwestern assistant, and his fourth as the Wildcats’ wide receivers coach. He coached Northwestern’s running backs in 2004 and 2005. Johns also was appointed the program’s recruiting coordinator in July of 2006, a position he held until January of 2008 when he assumed the role of passing game coordinator. Before returning to Northwestern as a full-time coach just prior to the 2003 Motor City Bowl, Johns worked as the receivers coach at the University of Richmond for the 2002 and 2003 seasons. Johns served as Northwestern’s offensive graduate assistant for three seasons from 19992001 prior to accepting the Spiders’ full-time coaching position. In 2006, Johns tutored All-Big Ten (honorable mention) wide receiver BOWL EXPERIENCE Shaun Herbert. Herbert ended his career fourth on NU’s all-time • 2000 Alamo (Northwestern) receptions list with 168. He led the • 2005 Sun (Northwestern) squad with 47 catches his final season. • 2008 Alamo (Northwestern) Johns’ wide receiver corps in 2007 was one of the deepest for NU in recent memory. Junior Eric Peterman earned a Rivals.com All-Big Ten nod after leading the squad with 66 catches for 744 yards, the seventhbest single-season reception total in NU history. For the first time in school history, four players finished the year with 45 or more receptions. Guiding a very experienced group of wide receivers in 2008 (three starters and four receivers overall were seniors), Johns’ unit combined to catch 15 touchdowns on the year. Senior Eric Peterman led the Wildcats with 737 receiving yards and six touchdowns to earn All-Big Ten honorable mention honors. Peterman, along with classmate Ross Lane, both closed their careers with 2,000-plus receiving yards each and rank in the top 10 at NU in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. In his first two seasons as NU’s running backs coach, Johns helped mentor Noah Herron, who earned second-team All-Big Ten honors, and then Tyrell Sutton, the 2005 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and the 2005 Sporting News’ National Offensive Freshman of the Year. Herron was the nation’s 14th-leading rusher (115.1 ypg) and a Senior Bowl invitee in 2004. He was later drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Sutton shattered every freshman running back mark at Northwestern en route to the eighth-best rushing season in Division I-A (122.8 ypg). Johns originally came to Evanston from the University of Dayton where he was a two-year starter at quarterback for the Flyers. In his two-year stint as a starter, Dayton recorded a 20-1 record and Johns was named a Division I-AA All-American. After his junior season, he was named the Division I-AA Non-Scholarship Offensive Player of the Year. Johns was also named team MVP in 1996 and 1997. Johns graduated from Dayton with a bachelor of science degree in mathematics in 1998. In August 2001, he received his master’s degree from Northwestern’s School of Education and Social Policy program. Johns and his wife Krista welcomed their third boy, Carter, in April of 2007. They have twin sons, Logan and Tyler, born in December of 2004.
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JOHNS AT-A-GLANCE Born
December 4, 1975
Alma Mater
University of Dayton, 1998
Degrees Bachelor’s Degree Mathematics Master’s Degree, 2001 (Northwestern) Education and Social Policy Playing Experience
Quarterback, Dayton, 1994-97
Coaching Experience Piqua HS (Ohio), 1998 Assistant Coach Northwestern, 1999-2001 Offensive Graduate Assistant Richmond, 2002-03 Wide Receivers Northwestern, 2004-05 Running Backs Northwestern, 2006-07 Wide Receivers/Recruiting Coordinator Northwestern, 2008-present Wide Receivers Passing Game Coordinator Family
Wife, Krista; Sons, Carter, Logan and Tyler
Prominent Players Coaches
Noah Herron, Tyrell Sutton, Eric Peterman
Johns’ Recruiting Areas
Chicago (West Suburbs), Ohio (Cincinnati and Dayton), West Dallas/Fort Worth, Missouri, Kansas Kentucky
Krista, Carter, Logan, Tyler and Kevin Johns
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COACHING STAFF MARTY LONG Second Season at NU 22nd Overall Season Defensive Line Coach
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arty Long is in his second season as the Wildcats’ defensive line coach after coaching arguably NU’s most improved unit in 2008. Led by first-team All-Big Ten selection Corey Wootton at defensive end, the Wildcats ranked 18th in the nation and second in the conference in sacks with 2.62 per game. As an individual, Wootton led the team both with 10.0 sacks (21st in the nation) and 16.0 tackles-forloss (35th in the nation). NU’s five regular starters all had a minimum of 3.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles-for-loss. NU’s line helped hold four different opponents to under 100 yards rushing, including limiting Ohio to an NU-school-record four net yards on the ground. Senior John Gill joined Wootton as an All-Big Ten honoree, while redshirt-freshman Vince Browne was a Rivals.com and Sporting News Freshman All-America award winner. Prior to his arrival in Evanston, BOWL EXPERIENCE Long spent 12 years on the West Coast, coaching at Arizona (1996• 1997 Insight (Arizona) • 1998 Holiday (Arizona) 2003), Nevada (2004-06) and • 2005 Hawaii (Nevada) Washington State (2007). He also • 2006 MPC Computer (Nevada) coached seven seasons (1987-93) at • 2008 Alamo (Northwestern) his alma mater, The Citadel, where he coached the defensive line and outside linebackers. Since graduating from The Citadel in 1986, where he played running back, Long has been coaching in the college ranks for all but two years. He was a defensive graduate assistant at Western Kentucky (1986) and The Citadel (1987) before assuming a full-time position with his alma mater in 1988. He continued coaching the Bulldogs until 1994 when he made the jump to professional football, serving as a defensive assistant with the CFL’s Baltimore Stallions for two seasons. Long then moved back into college coaching, assuming an assistant position (defensive line coach) with Arizona under head coaches Dick Tomey and John Mackovic. During his tenure in Tucson, the Wildcats fielded some of the nation’s top defensive teams, ranking 12th nationally in rushing defense in 1997 and ‘98, and ranking eighth in rushing defense and 21st in total defense in 2000. In 2004, Long began a three-year stint with Chris Ault’s Nevada Wolfpack, coaching the defensive line. He then served on Bill Doba’s staff at Washington State this past season. Throughout his career, Long has been part of several championship teams. At The Citadel, he helped the Bulldogs to a Southern Conference championship (11-2) in 1992. With the Baltimore Stallions, he won the 1995 Grey Cup (18-3) with the greatest record in the history of the league. At Arizona, the Wildcats went 12-1 in 1998 (best season in school history) and won the Holiday Bowl. At Nevada, the Wolfpack won the WAC title in 2005 (9-3) and played in the Hawaii Bowl. In 1992, he earned a Coach of the Year Medallion from the Eastman Kodak Company. Long is a native of Rock Hill, S.C., where he attended Northwestern High. He graduated from The Citadel in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in math and computer science. He and his wife, Donna, have a son, Jerrell, and two daughters, Anna and Kayla.
LONG AT-A-GLANCE Born
January 8, 1964
Alma Mater
The Citadel, 1986
Degrees Bachelor’s Degree Math and Computer Science Playing Experience Running Back, The Citadel Collegiate Western Kentucky, 1986 Coaching Defensive Graduate Assistant Experience The Citadel, 1987 Defensive Graduate Assistant The Citadel, 1988-93 Defensive Line/Outside Linebackers Arizona, 1996-2003 Defensive Line Nevada, 2004-06 Defensive Line Washington State, 2007 Defensive Line Northwestern, 2008 Defensive Line Professional Coaching Baltimore Stallions, CFL, 1994-95 Defensive Assistant Family
Wife; Donna; Son, Jerrell; Daughters, Anna, Kayla
Prominent Players Coached
Chuck Osborne, Joe Salave’a, Joe Tafoya, John Gill
Long’s Recruiting Areas
Chicago Public, Orlando and South Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and West Virginia
Clockwise from left: Anna, Marty, Donna and Kayla Long
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COACHING STAFF MATT Macpherson Fourth Season at NU 11th Overall Season Running Backs Coach
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att MacPherson is in his fourth season as the Wildcats’ running backs coach. MacPherson returned to Evanston after spending the 2004-05 seasons at Eastern Michigan. He was NU’s defensive graduate assistant from 2000-02. MacPherson’s first season as the running backs coach notched him his first 1,000-yard rusher in Tyrell Sutton. Sutton followed his recordbreaking freshman campaign with a 5.3 yard per carry average in 2006. He finished with 1,000 yards on 189 attempts and also caught 40 passes (261 yards) out of the backfield. In 2007, Sutton was named an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection by the coaches despite missing five-plus games with an ankle injury. In Sutton’s absence, both Omar Conteh and Brandon Roberson BOWL EXPERIENCE recorded 100-yard rushing games. MacPherson’s running back corps • 2000 Alamo (Northwestern) was hit hard by injuries in 2008, • 2008 Alamo (Northwestern) but the group stepped up and performed well regardless. Sutton appeared in parts of nine games during the regular season, averaging 98.9 yards per game and 4.8 yards per carry. He also was NU’s fourthleading receiver to earn honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades from the coaches, the fourth All-Big Ten nod of his career. Sutton finished the regular season with 1,195 all-purpose yards in his nine appearances, averaging 132.8 yards per game. As a team, NU averaged 141.8 yards on the ground per game. Prior to joining the Wildcat staff, MacPherson spent two seasons working on Jeff Genyk’s staff at Eastern Michigan University, coaching the Eagles’ safeties. Prior to his two-year stint at Eastern Michigan, MacPherson was the defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. A native of Dayton, Ohio, MacPherson attended DePauw University, where he played football for four seasons and was named a two-time first-team all-conference linebacker. He also was named a third-team Football Gazette All-American in 1998. He was DePauw’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1998, and went on to be selected to the school’s All-Century Team. Following his graduation in 1999, MacPherson remained at DePauw as a graduate assistant/recruiting coordinator and worked as the running backs coach and the junior varsity offensive coordinator. He earned a bachelor’s degree in health and physical performance. MacPherson and his wife, Pamela, have three children, Thomas, Andrew, and Samantha.
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Macpherson AT-A-GLANCE Born
October 27, 1976
Alma Mater
DePauw, 1999
Degrees Bachelor’s Degree Health and Physical Performance Playing Experience Linebacker, DePauw, 1995-98 Coaching DePauw, 1999 Experience Graduate Assistant/Recruiting Coordinator Northwestern, 2000-02 Defensive Graduate Assistant Kenyon, 2003 Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Eastern Michigan, 2004-05 Safeties Northwestern, 2006-present Running Backs Family Wife, Pamela; Sons, Thomas and Andrew; Daughter, Samantha Prominent Players Coached
Tyrell Sutton
MacPherson’s Recruiting Areas
Chicago (Far West Suburbs), Ohio (Columbus and Northwest Ohio), Michigan, Indiana, Iowa and North Florida
Matt, Andrew, Thomas, Pamela and Samantha MacPherson
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COACHING STAFF/SUPPORT STAFF LOUIS AYENI
Alan WOLKING
Second Season Offensive Graduate Assistant
First Season Defensive Graduate Assistant
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ormer Wildcat Louis Ayeni joined the Northwestern coaching staff as offensive graduate assistant prior to the 2008 spring season, and works primarily with the wide receivers. During his career at Northwestern from 1999-2003, Ayeni played at the running back position on the offensive side of the ball before switching to safety prior to his senior season. He served as team captain in 2003-04 and was a team representative to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) from 2002-04. He graduated in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in communications and a minor in sociology. In four games his senior year, he totaled 22 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. In the 2003 season-opening win at Kansas, Ayeni was tabbed the team’s defensive player of the game, his first game playing safety in college. Later that season he added player of the game and big playmaker of the game accolades against Purdue and Wisconsin, respectively. As an offensive performer early in his career, Ayeni rushed for 160 yards his freshman season. Though slowed by injuries during his time as a Wildcat, Ayeni signed as a free agent with the Indianapolis Colts as a safety for the 200405 season before joining the St. Louis Rams in 2005-06 as a linebacker. In addition to his experience in the National Football League, Ayeni spent four years as a performance athletic specialist with Acceleration Minnesota in his hometown of Woodbury, Minn. While there, he trained athletes to enhance their abilities through individualized strength and speed training programs. He also served as varsity defensive backs coach and varsity track and field coach from 2006-08 at his alma mater, Woodbury High School.
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lan Wolking is in his first official season with the Wildcats, serving as the team’s defensive graduate assistant coach. During the 2008 season, he interned with the program as a quality control assistant for NU’s defense. Last year, Wolking assisted in the coaching of NU’s cornerbacks and safeties, a duty he will continue to handle as the graduate assistant coach. As the quality control assistant, he also helped with the coaching of special teams, coordinating scout offense and special teams units, preparing scouting reports as well as self-scouting reports. Before joining the Northwestern program, Wolking was a graduate student at Ohio State, his alma mater. While at OSU he worked in various capacities for the athletic department while pursuing his master’s degree in sport management. A native of Hudson, Ohio, Wolking also has football coaching experience at Upper Arlington High School in suburban Columbus in the fall of 2007. There, he coached the school’s running backs and linebackers. Prior to 2007, Wolking spent four years (2003-06) as an assistant coach at Walter Payton College Prep High in Chicago. He served in various capacities and was the program’s offensive coordinator and assistant head coach his final season (2006). Wolking, who graduated from Ohio State in 2002 with bachelor’s degrees in marketing and transportation logistics, resides in Evanston.
JEN BROWN
Cody CEJDA
Sixth Season Associate Athletic Trainer
First Season Coordinator of Player Development and Personnel
en Brown is in her sixth year as an athletic trainer at Northwestern, working directly with the defensive side of the ball on football while overseeing NU’s men’s and women’s tennis programs. Brown earned her bachelor’s degree is human development and psychological services from Northwestern in 1999 before obtaining a master’s degree in fitness and wellness management from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2003. She is a NATABOC Certified Athletic Trainer, is certified as an ACSM Health Fitness Instructor and is an American Red Cross Professional Rescuer. Prior to her return to her alma mater, Brown served as an athletic trainer at Colorado, the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Northern Illinois.
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ody Cejda is in his first season at Northwestern as the Coordinator of Player Development and Player Personnel. Cejda assists with coordinating summer jobs and internships, community service, academic issues and additional player relation activities. He also serves as the NFL Liaison, assisting over 75 NFL personnel with their visits and helping student-athletes understand the transition to the NFL and other professional leagues. Cejda works closely with the recruiting staff to coordinate day-to-day recruiting operations. He served as a recruiting assistant and as the senior student manager for Michigan, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2007. Prior to joining the Northwestern football family, Cejda worked as a consulting analyst for Accenture.
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SUPPORT STAFF RYAN COLLINS
BILLY CROSS
First Season Assistant Athletic Trainer
Sixth Season Assistant Equipment Manager
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yan Collins, ATC, is in his first year as an assistant athletic trainer at Northwestern. Prior to arriving in Evanston, Collins served as the head athletic trainer for two years at Dominican University. Before his two-year stint at DU, he spent five years as an assistant athletic trainer as well as a clinical supervisor and lecturer in the accredited athletic training curriculum at Eastern Illinois University (2002-07), his alma mater. Collins earned a bachelor of science with a specialization in athletic training from EIU in 2000. Before he joined the EIU staff in 2002, Collins received a master of education with an emphasis in curriculum and instruction from Arizona State University (2000-02). He served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer for the football team during his two-year stint at ASU. Collins earned football athletic training experience in the NFL as an intern with the Indianapolis Colts in 1998.
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illy Cross joined Northwestern in August of 2003 as an intern in the equipment room before becoming an assistant equipment manager in 2004. He has worked with the football and men’s basketball teams since the 2004-05 athletic season. A 2003 graduate of Northern Illinois where he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology, Cross worked as a student equipment manager with the football team during his time in DeKalb. He also was a spring mini-camp equipment manager for the Chicago Bears in 2003. Cross is a Certified Equipment Manager and member of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association (AEMA). He resides in Chicago.
JAY HOOTEN First Season Assistant Director Strength and Conditioning
SHARROD EVERETT Second Season Associate Director of Football Operations
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harrod Everett joined Northwestern as associate director of football operations in June of 2008. He is responsible for coordinating dayto-day recruiting operations while also assisting in both internal and external operations. Everett came to Evanston after serving as the director of football operations at Tennessee State for one season. Prior to that, he spent a year as a championships assistant at the Big Ten Conference office, where he assisted with the overall administration and management of 23 Big Ten championships and tournaments. While pursuing a master’s degree at Xavier University, Everett worked as the school’s assistant coordinator of operations for Olympic sports until June of 2006. A native of Gallatin, Tenn., Everett played four seasons at Campbellsville University where he was a two-year starter at defensive back and team captain. He also was a member of the university’s track team. Everett graduated from Campbellsville University in December of 2004, receiving a bachelor’s degree in exercise science/sports medicine. He completed his master’s degree in sports management from Xavier in June of 2006. Everett is married to the former Kimberly Campbell of Detroit, Mich. The Everetts reside in Skokie.
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ay Hooten is in his first season with Northwestern as an assistant director of strength and conditioning after joining the Wildcats in January of 2009. In addition to his football responsibilities, Hooten also works with wrestling, baseball and men’s soccer. He also assists with Northwestern’s football program. An Ohio native, Hooten spent six years as a football performance assistant at Ohio State, where he assisted with the strength and conditioning program for the Buckeyes. After leaving Ohio State, Hooten spent a year as the director of sports performance at Wayne High School in Huber Heights, Ohio, before taking over as the owner and director of Fast-Twitch Performance Enhancement in Dayton. Hooten is a certified strength and conditioning specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association and also is a certified specialist with the National Association of Speed and Explosion. Hooten earned a bachelor’s degree in health and sport science from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from Northridge High School in Dayton where he was teammates with NU assistant coach Matt MacPherson and director of football operations Nolan Jones. Hooten and his wife Lovi have two children, daughter Joss and son Landon. The Hootens reside in Skokie.
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SUPPORT STAFF BILL JARVIS
Nolan JONES
34th Season Head Equipment Manager
Fifth Season Director of Football Operations
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ill Jarvis is in his 34th year as Northwestern’s equipment manager. The Clear Fork, Ohio, native came to NU following six years as equipment manager at Ashland (Ohio) College, his alma mater. In April of 2000, Jarvis was inducted into the Ashland Sports Hall of Fame. He was named the 2002 Outstanding Equipment Manager by the AllAmerican Football Foundation. Jarvis, an honorary member of the N Club, coordinates all athletic equipment for the Wildcats’ 19 teams. In 1995, he was honored with the Tony Anderson Memorial Award as the District V Equipment Manager of the Year. He was one of eight collegiate equipment managers appointed in 1988 to the All-American/Maxpro Advisory Board, advising and suggesting safety changes for athletic equipment. In addition, Jarvis served as head equipment man for the College All-Stars in their final game against the 1976 Super Bowl champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also assisted the Chicago Bears during their 1985 Super Bowl Championship season. In 2005, Jarvis received the Vitalis Sun Bowl Honorary Big Ten Chairman Award. Jarvis, who currently assists the adidas advisory board, received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Ashland in 1970. He is a founding and charter member of the Athltic Equipment Manager’s Association. Jarvis lives in Evanston.
KEN KOWALSKI
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olan Jones joined Northwestern in the spring of 2005 as its assistant director of football operations. He was promoted to director in June of 2006, and now is in his fourth year in that capacity. Jones’ duties include overseeing the internal and external operations of the football program. Jones currently serves on the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) football operations national committee for Directors of Football Operations. This is his second stint after also serving during his time as the director of football operations at Princeton, where Jones was from 2004-05 prior to coming to Evanston. Jones spent the 2003 season working as the director of football operations and graduate assistant coach at Eastern Kentucky. In 2002, Jones was a football operations assistant at Kentucky. A native of Dayton, Ohio, Jones earned his bachelor’s degree in sports management in 2003 and a master’s degree in sports administration in 2004 from Eastern Kentucky. After graduating from Northridge High School, where he was a first-team all-Ohio place-kicker, Jones began his collegiate career at Miami (Ohio). An injury ended his career prior to the start of his freshman year. Jones transferred to EKU, starting his coaching career as an assistant from 2000-01 at Madison Central High in Richmond, Ky. At Northridge, Jones played with NU assistant coach Matt MacPherson and assistant director of strength and conditioning, Jay Hooten. The trio were coached by MacPherson’s father. Jones and his wife, Crystal, have a son, Brycen, born Jan. 22, 2009.
First Season Director of Video Operations
LARRY LILJA 29th Season Director of Strength and Conditioning
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en Kowalski joined the Northwestern football family as its director of video operations on June 1, 2009. Kowalski previously spent four years as the video coordinator at Bowling Green State University, handling all aspects of Falcon football video including practice and game film, video exchange, team pre-game highlight film and coach and player video packages. Kowalski graduated from BGSU in May of 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts with an emphasis in sport management. Prior to attending Bowling Green, he served as the game day operations manager for the Toledo IceDiggers, a junior hockey team in the North American Hockey League. Kowalski is a member of the Collegiate Sports Video Association and the American Football Coaches Association. A native of Northwest Ohio, Kowalski and his wife, Kelly, have two children, Blake and Mackenzie.
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arry Lilja, a three-year starter for Northwestern’s football team from 1973-75, returned in 1981 as director of strength and conditioning. Lilja coordinates all strength and conditioning programs for the Wildcat football squad and oversees all of NU’s athletic programs. He supervises the football team’s workouts in the weight room, both during the season and off-season. Widely recognized for his role in the 1995-96 Big Ten title teams, Lilja was chosen by his conference colleagues as the 1996 Big Ten Strength and Conditioning Professional of the Year. A native of Palos Park, Ill., Lilja graduated from Northwestern in 1976 with an economics degree and had brief National Football League experiences with the Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants. Lilja and his brothers, George (Michigan) and Dave (Indiana), are the only siblings in Big Ten history to captain three different conference squads. Larry was a captain in 1974, George in 1980 and Dave in 1986. Lilja and his wife, Kelly, have two sons, Scott (a safety at NU) and Ricky, and one daughter, Veronica. The Liljas live in Lake Bluff.
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SUPPORT STAFF
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Tory LINDLEY
David REITZ
Eighth Season Associate Athletic Director Director of Athletic Training Services
First Season Randy Walker Recruiting Assistant
ory Lindley, ATC is in his eighth year as NU’s head athletic trainer. Before Evanston, Lindley was head athletic trainer at Eastern Michigan and a clinical supervisor and lecturer in the accredited athletic training curriculum for two years. Prior to EMU, he spent four years as a staff athletic trainer at his alma mater, Michigan State (1996-2000), where he earned a bachelor’s degree in education with a specialization in athletic training in 1991. The Suttons Bay, Mich., native served as head ATC at Hamline University in St. Paul (1993-96) after receiving an MA in kinesiology with a biomechanics emphasis from Minnesota in 1993. He earned football athletic training experience in the NFL as an intern with the Washington Redskins (1989) and the New York Giants (1990) and as an assistant ATC for the Houston Oilers (1992-93). Lindley supervises NU’s athletic training staff, interns and students and works primarily with football. He also supervises strength and conditioning services and serves as the sport administrator for wrestling. A published author in the Journal of Athletic Training, Athletic Therapy Today and Rehab Management, Lindley is in his sixth year of service to the Illinois Athletic Trainers’ Association Board of Directors. He serves as past-president after a stint as the association’s president and vice president. He is president-elect of the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers Association and associate editor of Athletic Training & Sports Health Care Journal. Tory is the 2009 recipient of the GLATA Dedicated Service Award and the 2007 NATA Athletic Training Service Award. Lindley and his wife, Bethann, have three children: Jonah, Evan and Genevieve.
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avid Reitz is in his first season as the Randy Walker recruiting assistant at Northwestern after spending last year as a football operations intern. Reitz is responsible for all day-to-day tasks in the recruiting office, working closely with the recruiting coordinator and assistant director of football operations. His duties include database management, organizing official and unofficial visits and all recruiting correspondence. Reitz is a 2008 cum laude graduate of Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, Calif., with a bachelor’s degree in economics and government. He currently is pursuing his master’s degree in sports administration at Northwestern. He is a member of the American Football Coaches Association. Reitz is a native of Wilmette, Ill., and currently lives in Chicago.
CURTIS SHANER 22nd Season Assistant Equipment Manager
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ow in his 22nd season working with the Wildcat football program is assistant equipment manager Curtis Shaner. He also handles all equipment responsibilities for Northwestern’s baseball program. A native of Bowling Green, Ohio, Shaner attended Bowling Green High School, where he became an equipment aide and ball boy at Bowling Green State University for Glenn Sharp, who was the equipment manager and founder of the AEMA (Athletic Equipment Managers Association). Following high school, Shaner attended Ashland College. Upon graduation, Shaner became the head equipment manager at Ashland for one year. From there, Shaner worked as an equipment manager at Oklahoma State for five years and Western Michigan for one year before becoming a member of Northwestern’s staff. As the equipment manager for football, Shaner sets up and takes down practice sets, helps coordinate the transportation of all equipment for Camp Kenosha as well as all road contests, handles team laundry and oversees student managers. Shaner, who resides in Skokie, is a member of the AEMA.
2009 northwestern football • NUsports.com
SUPPORT STAFF NIEl STOPCZYNSKI Third Season Assistant Director of Video Services
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iel Stopczynski is in his first season at the assistant coordinator of video operations at Northwestern after spending the previous two years as the Wildcats’ Randy Walker Recruiting Assistant. Stopczynski came to Northwestern after earning his bachelor’s degree in sports administration from Ball State University in 2006. Stopczynski assists in all aspects of video, including managing the videotape library of games, practice films and prospects. Stopczynski also helps in coordinating game tape exchanges with opponents. He continues to manage the nufootballfamily.com recruiting web site as well as overseeing the functionality of the recruiting database. During his two years as recruiting assistant, Stopczynski helped coordinate day-to-day recruiting activities with the assistant director of football operations. Stopczynski was responsible for organizing unofficial recruiting visits, coordinating recruit correspondence with the coaching staff and managing the recruiting database and football Web site. Before joining the Wildcats, he spent the 2006 season working as a recruiting assistant for the Cardinals. Stopczynski was involved with multiple facets of the recruiting process, including organizing visits, coordinating recruiting correspondence and informing coaches on the progress of various recruits. Stopczynski is a member of the American Football Coaches Association. He is single and resides in Chicago.
OMAR Ahmad Football operations intern
CHRIS BATTI
SEan dillon
Football operations intern
Football operations intern
Carolyn Fleming
george gladic
Football Administrative Assistant
Football Secretary
MELISSA WUELSER 15th Season Associate Athletic Trainer
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elissa Wuelser is in her 15th year as an athletic trainer at Northwestern, working directly with the offensive side of the ball on football while overseeing NU’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs. Wuelser graduated from Michigan State with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science in 1991 before earning a master’s degree in sports medicine from Illinois in 1994. She is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and is a certified American Heart Association Health Care Provider. Prior to her arrival at Northwestern, Wuelser served as an athletic trainer at the University of Washington, the Greater Flint Sports Medicine Center and the University of Illinois. Wuelser has made several presentations dealing with football injuries in recent years at the Big Ten Sports Medicine Meeting, and is a member of Northwestern’s Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Committee.
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