When Jay Niemann met with the NIU defensive backs one on one for the first time, he thought of a good way to break the ice with his new players.

“Frankly, we hadn’t spent much time around the players,” Niemann said. “There were a lot guys I didn’t know at that point.”

The Huskies’ new defensive coordinator and safeties coach shared background information with his players about himself personally, including his family and playing days at Iowa State.

When Niemann reflected on his college football career as a Cyclone from 1979-1982 with NIU safety Tommy Davis, there was an instant connection.

“Tommy had mentioned to his dad [Tommy Davis Jr.] that Jay Niemann was going to be his position coach and the defensive coordinator,” Niemnann said. “There aren’t a whole lot of Jay Niemanns running around in the world, so his dad identified me, and he told Tommy we played together at Iowa State. We had a good little chuckle about that.”

While Davis and the rest of his fellow NIU defensive backs know some personal facts about their new coach, they’re still in the process of getting to know what he’ll expect from them on the field. Davis thought that Niemann might expect more out of him and his fellow defensive back teammates.

“I can see him maybe tailoring some of the calls and putting some more of the responsibilities on the defensive backs in order to make some important calls for the defense,” Davis said.

Niemann and Huskie head coach Dave Doeren’s relationship can be traced back to Drake University. After Doeren wrapped up his playing career in 1993 as a Bulldog, Niemann was the defensive coordinator at the time, and hired Doeren to become a graduate assistant to help coach the defense.

Niemann stated that the door for a reunion was always kept open even after him and Doeren went their separate ways after working together at Drake.

“There wasn’t necessarily an understanding,” Niemann said. “But I think there was always a thought there that, if one of us had the opportunity to hire the other, whichever way it would work out, that possibility did exist that we would come back together and get chance to work again. Fortunately, it came here at NIU.”

The Huskie defense will have some major holes to plug in, as Niemann will have to search for players to replace 10 seniors who played significantly this past season. Five of those 10 seniors resided in the secondary, in cornerbacks Patrick George, Chris Smith, Kiaree Daniels and safeties Mike Sobol and Garrett Barnas.

Niemann sees talented replacements to fill those holes left behind by the departing seniors.

“There are some really good players and we’ve got to go with the next man in mentality,” Niemann said.

While Davis and his teammates are in the process of still getting to know the ins and outs of the Niemann’s defensive philosophy, he’s already sold on his new coach.

“He seems like a pretty good guy,” Davis said.