The Northern Illinois Huskies are the athletic teams that represent Northern Illinois University. The Huskies are a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and the Mid-American Conference. The athletic program is made up of 7 men's sports (baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, tennis, wrestling) and 10 women's sports (basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, tennis, track, volleyball). The football team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Northern Illinois 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 after George “Chick” Evans. The huskie mascot was officially chosen in 1940.

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Men's athletics

Baseball

Northern Illinois baseball started playing in 1900. The program was disbanded from 1983 through 1990. They currently play home games at the Ralph McKinzie Field in Dekalb, Illinois. They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament twice (1972, 1996).

Championships

• 1924 - Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference / Little 19 Champions
• 1925 - Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference / Little 19 Champions
• 1936 - Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference / Little 19 Champions
• 1945 - Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference / Little 19 Champions
• 1946 - Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference / Little 19 Champions
• 1950 - Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference / Little 19 Champions
• 1951 - Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference / Little 19 Champions
• 1964 - Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champions
• 1972 - Midwestern Collegiate Conference Champions
• 1996 - Mid-Continent Conference Champions

Basketball

Northern Illinois men's basketball started playing in 1900. They currently play home games at the Convocation Center in Dekalb, Illinois. They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament three times (1982, 1991, 1996).

Championships

• 1934 - Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference / Little 19 Champions
• 1941 - Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference / Little 19 Champions
• 1945 - Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference / Little 19 Champions
• 1972 - Midwestern Collegiate Conference Champions
• 1982 - Mid-Continent Conference Champions
• 1996 - Mid-American Conference Champions

Football

Northern Illinois football started playing in 1899. As of 2007, they have won 9 football conference titles, appeared in eight Division I-A and College Division Bowl Games (winning three).

Championships

• 1938 - Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference / Little 19 Champions
• 1941 - Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference / Little 19 Co-Champions
• 1944 - Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference / Little 19 Champions
• 1946 - Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference / Little 19 Champions
• 1951 - Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champions
• 1963 - Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champions
• 1964 - Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Co-Champions
• 1965 - Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champions
• 1983 - Mid-American Conference Champions (MAC)

Golf

The Northern Illinois Mens Golf team currently play their home matches at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois. The team won the 1976 Mid American Conference Golf title and qualified for the 1976 NCAA Golf tournament.

Soccer

The Northern Illinois men soccer started playing in 1962. They currently play their home games at the Huskie Soccer Field. They have appeared in the NCAA tournament one time in 2006.

Championships

• 1984 - Midwest Metro Conference Champions
• 1990 - Mid-Continent Conference Champions
• 2006 - Mid-American Conference Champions

Tennis

The Northern Illinois men tennis team had six players qualify for the NCAA tournament, one player twice and another player three times (1963, 1968, 1970-1973, 1987).

Wrestling

The Northern Illinois wrestling started in 1931. The team had 86 players qualify for the NCAA tournament with two winning the championship match (1960 (177), 1965(HWT)). Three other players won the NAIA championship (1958 (123), 1961 (167), 1961 (177))

Women's athletics

Basketball

Northern Illinois women's basketball started playing in 1957. They currently play home games at the Convocation Center in Dekalb, Illinois. They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament five times (1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995).

Championships

• 1990 - North Star Conference Champions
• 1993 - Mid-Continent Conference Champions

Cross Country

Golf

Gymnastics

Soccer

Softball

Tennis

Track and field

Volleyball

Huskie Hall of Fame

The Huskie Hall of Fame first started in 1978. There was an annual class induction since 1983. Women were inducted into the Hall of Fame since 1986. There are currently 179 individuals and 14 teams enshrined in the Huskie Hall of Fame.

References