Joe Novak took an NIU football team in dire straights and turned it into a competitor in the MAC. In 1999, the Huskies finished runner-up in the MAC West and made the MAC Championship game in 2005 after tying for first in the MAC West the previous season.

Under Novak, the Huskies upset ranked teams in Maryland and Alabama and made visits to Ohio State and Michigan. NIU made two bowls: the Poinsettia Bowl and the Silicon Valley Classic, going 1-1. He also coached two Heisman Trophy candidates and started a streak of nine straight seasons with a 1,000-yard rusher.