In 1967 a freshman football player from a small town in Texas played for a young coach at Oklahoma who was then in his second season of collegiate coaching.

That coach, Jerry Pettibone, went on to become the head man at NIU for five seasons before leaving for Oregon State last December.

And that freshman football player, Charlie Sadler, was named to take Pettibone’s place less than a month after Pettibone’s departure.

At a Dec. 27 press conference, NIU Athletic Director Gerald O’Dell announced the selection of Sadler, who last served as Oklahoma’s defensive coordinator, to be NIU’s 18th head football coach.

“This job is a tremendous challenge,” the 41-year old Sadler said. “To me, Northern Illinois is a growing university in all aspects, not just intercollegiate athletics.

“This is a progressive athletic program. It is committed to being better and better. As you can see, I want to be part of that growth.”

Sadler had served at Oklahoma since 1984, Missouri (1983), Iowa State (1979 to 1982) and Oklahoma, where he started his collegiate coaching career, in 1978.

NIU screened 50-100 candidates nationally, O’Dell said, and chose Sadler because he “fit all the characteristics that we wanted at Northern Illinois.”

Sadler comes from a program that has been riddled with controversy in recent years because of alleged NCAA rule infractions and player misconduct, including shootings, rape charges and the conviction of quarterback Charles Thompson for selling cocaine.

“I was there (Oklahoma) through the (time of) the problems,” Sadler said. “(But) I was a very integral part in regards to the straightening out of some of the areas that needed to be straightened out.

“Had I (had any involvement with the misconduct) they (NIU) would not have interviewed me.”

Sadler and O’Dell coached together at Oklahoma and Iowa State. “We’ve known each other for quite a few years,” Sadler said of his new boss. “Gerald and I have always been friends. He knows that through the years if he ever needed me to do something he could call me. I know that if I ever needed Gerald to help me in an area I could call him.”

Sadler outlined several goals for his first head coaching job. “First, I want to win,” he said.

“Next thing I want is to furnish a team that will have excitement. An offense that will put points on the board and a defense that will play with tremendous enthusiasm.

“Stressing of academics (is) going to be a major part of my program,” Sadler added. “I want our football players to be role models and good role models.”

On the field, Sadler foresees his Huskies retaining some elements of the wishbone option, but with more passing and a defense that runs the same schemes as Oklahoma.

NIU coaches Gary Evans, Sheldon Herd and Russ Graham were retained by Sadler from Pettibone’s staff. Evans will serve as defensive coordinator. David Smith, Trent Miles and Todd Schonhar, all from Oklahoma, join Sadler’s staff as does Brad Lambert from Marshall University.

The appointment of Sadler and the new assistant coaches is subject to the approval of the Board of Regents, NIU’s governing body.