Without the leadership of the coaches, the football squad could not function. Here’s to the Huskie staff.

Jerry Pettibone—The NIU head boss enters his fourth season at the Huskie helm, which might prove to be his most successful ever. The 49-year-old has a strong football background as both coach and player. It all started at Jesuit High School in Dallas, Texas, where Pettibone was an All-State halfback. He then went on to Oklahoma and played during the ‘59, ’60 and ‘61 seasons.

In 1966 Pettibone went back to his alma mater as a freshman coach. Five years later he joined the Southern Methodist staff as recruiting coordinator. While he kept the title, he didn’t keep the job. Pettibone went back to Oklahoma, where for eight years he helped Barry Switzer attract athletes to the Sooner program. He then spent three years with Nebraska and three at Texas A & M before coming to DeKalb.

Mike Summers—When the position of offensive coordinator opened up in February, Summers filled the spot after spending the past three years as NIU halfback coach. Summers’ coaching career began as an assistant with the Kentucky Wildcats and the Texas A & M Aggies before heading out to Huskie territory in 1985.

Tim McGuire—This 35-year-old starts his third season as defensive coordinator for the Huskie gridders. His Four-Four alignment came into its own last fall—ranking No. 3 nationally in interceptions (24), No. 15 in turnover margin (+0.82 per game), and No. 34 among the 104 major institutions in total defense (335.5 yards-per-game yield).

Gary Evans—The former track and football All-American at Northeast Missouri State is now the secondary coach at NIU. He began his coaching career at his alma mater for two years and then headed out to Nebraska-Omaha, where he spent seven years as defensive coordinator.

Russ Graham—Graham has a dual responsibility as Huskie recruiting coordinator and tight end coach. The former NIU standout tutored the defensive ends in both 1984 and 1985 before Pettibone promoted him to a full-time position in the same capacity in 1986. In the spring of 1987, he inherited his current position.

Pete Peltzer—Peltzer is a newcomer to the staff as an offensive line coach. He joined the Huskies in February after serving as offensive coordinator and quarterback coach at Fort Hays State in 1987.

Mike Sabock—The fifth-year coach spends his time with the outside linebackers. When he came to NIU in 1984, he was the Huskie secondary coach under Lee Corso. Pettibone kept Sabock in that position for two more years, before naming him to his current job.

Sheldon Herd—Defensive line coach Sheldon Herd is the most recent addition to the staff. He arrived in March after coaching at Eastern Illinois, where the Panthers earned playoff bids three of the past six years.

Bob Jackson—The 37-year-old Huskie receiving coach returned to his alma mater in 1986 after 12 successful seasons as a prep coach. During his last three years at Thornwood, he compiled a 21-8-0 mark.

Jay Schaake—This quarterback/fullback coach joined NIU in 1987 after a one-year stint as offensive coordinator at Salt Lake City Highland High School.

Jim Zielinski—This 26-year-old Rockford native joins his alma mater as acting strength coach for the football program and NIU’s 15 other Division I sports.