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Northern Star

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

New NIU women’s basketball head coach Jacey Brooks speaks during her introductory press conference on Wednesday inside the Convocation Center in DeKalb. Brooks was named NIU’s 11th women’s basketball head coach on April 1 after two seasons as the associate head coach at the University at Buffalo. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

How Jacey Brooks became NIU’s Superwoman

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | April 10, 2025

DeKALB – As he sat before the audience at a press conference Wednesday afternoon introducing new women’s basketball head coach Jacey Brooks, NIU Vice President and Director of Athletics Sean Frazier made a simple yet confident declaration: NIU had...

University at Buffalo associate head coach Jacey Brooks (left) shouts from the sideline during the Bulls' 78-60 loss to Kent State University in the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game on March 16, 2024, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. Brooks was named the 11th head coach of NIU women's basketball on Tuesday. (Paul Hokanson | UB Athletics)

Women’s basketball names Jacey Brooks as next head coach

By Edison Miller, Sports Editor | April 1, 2025

University at Buffalo associate head coach Jacey Brooks has been hired as the next head coach of the NIU women’s basketball team, NIU Athletics announced Tuesday. “We are excited to welcome Jacey Brooks to NIU to lead the Huskie women's basketball...

NIU women's basketball head coach Lisa Carlsen consults the team during a timeout at the Convocation Center in DeKalb. Lisa Carlsen resigned from NIU on Monday after 10 seasons with the Huskies. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

BREAKING: Lisa Carlsen resigns after 10 seasons with NIU

By Edison Miller, Sports Editor | March 10, 2025

NIU women’s basketball head coach Lisa Carlsen resigned from NIU following 10 seasons leading the Huskies, NIU Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation Sean Frazier announced Monday.  The decision comes after a fruitless season with...

NIU President Lisa Freeman (from left), NIU Vice President and Director of Athletics Sean Frazier and Horizon League Commissioner Julie Roe Lach pose for a photo-op after a press conference Thursday at the Convocation Center in DeKalb. The university announced Thursday it will send its non-football sports, except for gymnastics and wrestling, to the Horizon League in 2026. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

NIU finalizes move to Horizon League for non-football sports in 2026

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | February 27, 2025

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 5 p.m. to include NIU Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation Sean Frazier’s comments on NIU’s financial savings from the conference move and Horizon League Commissioner Julie Roe Lach’s...

NIU President Lisa Freeman (left), Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation Sean Frazier and head football coach Thomas Hammock speak to the media during a Jan. 7 press conference announcing NIU football will join the Mountain West Conference in 2026. The move marks the second time in school history that NIU will leave the Mid-American Conference. (Edison Miller | Northern Star)

KISELLUS: NIU’s Mountain West move isn’t 1980s déjà vu

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | February 13, 2025

Once upon a time, NIU made the daring decision to leave the confines of the Mid-American Conference and venture out into the great unknown of independence. What followed was an embarrassing saga that eventually brought the Huskies back to where they started. Four...

NIU football players run onto the field before the Huskies’ 117th Homecoming game against the University of Toledo on Oct. 19 at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. NIU will play its final season in the Mid-American Conference in 2025 before joining the Mountain West Conference as a football-only affiliate. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

BREAKING: NIU to join Mountain West as football affiliate in 2026

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 7, 2025

Editor’s note: This is an ongoing breaking news story. This story will be updated when more information becomes available. DeKALB – NIU will officially join the Mountain West Conference as a football-only member starting in 2026, leaving the Mid-American...

Sean Frazier, NIU’s vice president and director of athletics and recreation, cheers with the rest of the crowd during an NIU men’s basketball game against Eastern Michigan University on Feb. 3 at the Convocation Center. NIU Athletics announced a contract extension for Frazier on Friday that will keep him at NIU through June 30, 2027.

NIU, AD Sean Frazier agree to contract extension

By Northern Star Sports Staff | August 23, 2024

DeKALB – NIU Athletics announced Friday a contract extension with Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation Sean Frazier that will tie him to the university through June 30, 2027. Frazier, who enters his 12th year at the helm of NIU...

Napientek, Feuerbach promoted to Frazier’s executive team

By Zack Rodriguez, Former Sports Reporter | September 15, 2023

DeKALB – As announced on Friday, Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation Sean T. Frazier welcomed Dr. Randi Napientek and TJ Feuerbach as the newest members of his executive team. After joining the Huskies academic staff in 2017,...

NIU President Lisa Freeman, NIU volleyball head coach Sondra Parys and NIU Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation Sean Frazier hold an NIU volleyball jersey bearing the No. 7, representing Parys' status as the Huskies' seventh head coach in program history. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

NIU welcomes Sondra Parys to Huskie country

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 12, 2023

DeKALB – Standing at the podium in front of the crowd gathered at Victor E. Court during her first appearance as the new head coach of NIU volleyball on Tuesday, Sondra Parys shared a brief moment with her father, Joe. “I know you’ve always wanted...

Former Loyola University Chicago assistant coach Sondra Parys was hired to lead NIU's volleyball program Thursday. (Loyola Chicago Athletics)

NIU tabs Sondra Parys to lead Huskie volleyball

By Northern Star Sports Staff | December 15, 2022
NIU Athletics has hired former Loyola Chicago assistant coach Sondra Parys to take the reins of its volleyball program.
Head coach Thomas Hammock addresses the team during Spring football practice.

Huskies ready for Illinois State visit for programs’ 57th meeting

By James Krause | August 30, 2019

Head coach Thomas Hammock addresses the team during Spring football practice.

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