| Northern Illinois Huskies men's soccer | |||
|---|---|---|---|
![]() | |||
| Founded | 1962 | ||
| University | Northern Illinois University | ||
| Head coach | Ryan Swan (6th season) | ||
| Conference | MVC | ||
| Location | DeKalb, Illinois | ||
| Stadium | NIU Soccer Complex (Capacity: 1,500) | ||
| Nickname | Huskies | ||
| Colors | Cardinal and black[1] | ||
| |||
| NCAA Tournament Round of 16 | |||
| 1973 | |||
| NCAA Tournament Round of 32 | |||
| 1973, 2006, 2011, 2021 | |||
| NCAA Tournament appearances | |||
| 1973, 2006, 2011, 2021 | |||
| Conference Tournament championships | |||
| 1989 (BCSC) 2006, 2011, 2021 (MAC) | |||
| Conference Regular Season championships | |||
| 1984 (MMC) 1990 (Mid-Con) 2006, 2021 (MAC) | |||
The Northern Illinois Huskies men's soccer team is the college soccer team that represents Northern Illinois University (NIU) in DeKalb, Illinois, United States. The school's team competed in NIU's full-time home of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) through the 2022 season, after which the conference stopped sponsoring men's soccer.[2] NIU moved that sport to the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) effective with the 2023 season, joining fellow MAC members Bowling Green and Western Michigan in this move.[3] NIU men's soccer started playing in 1962 and has appeared in the NCAA Tournament four times (1973, 2006, 2011, 2021). The Huskies are coached by Ryan Swan.
Season-by-season records
| Season | Coach | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Kahler (Independent) (1962–1962) | |||||||||
| 1962 | Bob Kahler | 0–5 | |||||||
| Bob Kahler: | 0–5 | ||||||||
| William Healey (Independent) (1963–1968) | |||||||||
| 1963 | William Healey | 3–4 | |||||||
| 1964 | William Healey | 3–4 | |||||||
| 1965 | William Healey | 0–5 | |||||||
| 1966 | William Healey | 2–3 | |||||||
| 1967 | William Healey | 6–1 | |||||||
| 1968 | William Healey | 8–1 | |||||||
| William Healey: | 22–18 | ||||||||
| Dave Bucher (Independent) (1969–1979) | |||||||||
| 1969 | Dave Bucher | 8–1 | |||||||
| 1970 | Dave Bucher | 6–3–2 | |||||||
| 1971 | Dave Bucher | 7–2–1 | |||||||
| 1972 | Dave Bucher | 3–5–2 | |||||||
| 1973 | Dave Bucher | 7–2–2 | NCAA Round of 16 | ||||||
| 1974 | Dave Bucher | 5–2–3 | |||||||
| 1975 | Dave Bucher | 6–5 | |||||||
| 1976 | Dave Bucher | 7–3–2 | |||||||
| 1977 | Dave Bucher | 7–4 | |||||||
| 1978 | Dave Bucher | 7–2–3 | |||||||
| 1979 | Dave Bucher | 6–7–1 | |||||||
| Dave Bucher: | 69–36–16 | ||||||||
| John LeWang (Independent) (1980–1980) | |||||||||
| 1980 | John LeWang | 5–7–2 | |||||||
| John LeWang: | 5–7–2 | ||||||||
| Jerry Collins (Midwest Metro) (1981–1986) | |||||||||
| 1981 | Jerry Collins | 4–9–2 | 1–2 | 3rd | |||||
| 1982 | Jerry Collins | 7–9–1 | 3–1–1 | T–2nd | |||||
| 1983 | Jerry Collins | 8–7–2 | 4–1 | 2nd | |||||
| 1984 | Jerry Collins | 13–5–1 | 5–0 | 1st | |||||
| 1985 | Jerry Collins | 8–10–2 | 3–1 | 2nd | |||||
| 1986 | Jerry Collins | 6–12–1 | 1–3–1 | T–5th | |||||
| Jerry Collins: | 45–52–9 | 17–7–2 | |||||||
| Willy Roy (Big Central) (1987–1989) | |||||||||
| 1987 | Willy Roy | 6–10–2 | 1–3 | 5th | |||||
| 1988 | Willy Roy | 7–10–1 | 0–6 | 7th | |||||
| 1989 | Willy Roy | 14–4–2 | 4–2 | 3rd | |||||
| Willy Roy (Mid-Con) (1990–1993) | |||||||||
| 1990 | Willy Roy | 13–5–2 | 6–1 | 1st | |||||
| 1991 | Willy Roy | 11–5–3 | 5–2–1 | 3rd | |||||
| 1992 | Willy Roy | 6–9–2 | 3–3–1 | 4th | |||||
| 1993 | Willy Roy | 11–6–2 | 4–2–2 | 4th | |||||
| Willy Roy (MCC) (1994–1996) | |||||||||
| 1994 | Willy Roy | 10–7–1 | 5–3–1 | 3rd | |||||
| 1995 | Willy Roy | 7–10–2 | 3–5 | 6th | |||||
| 1996 | Willy Roy | 8–9–1 | 3–4–1 | 4th | |||||
| Willy Roy (MAC) (1997–2002) | |||||||||
| 1997 | Willy Roy | 10–9–1 | 2–4–1 | 6th | |||||
| 1998 | Willy Roy | 12–4–1 | 5–3 | 3rd | |||||
| 1999 | Willy Roy | 12–9 | 3–4 | T–5th | |||||
| 2000 | Willy Roy | 7–9 | 3–3 | 5th | |||||
| 2001 | Willy Roy | 4–12–1 | 1–5 | 7th | |||||
| 2002 | Willy Roy | 4–13–1 | 2–4 | 6th | |||||
| Willy Roy: | 142–131–22 | 50–54–7 | |||||||
| Steve Simmons (MAC) (2003–2008) | |||||||||
| 2003 | Steve Simmons | 3–12–2 | 2–4 | 5th | |||||
| 2004 | Steve Simmons | 12–7 | 4–2 | T–2nd | |||||
| 2005 | Steve Simmons | 11–6–2 | 4–2 | 2nd | |||||
| 2006 | Steve Simmons | 15–6–1 | 4–1 | 1st | NCAA Round of 32 | ||||
| 2007 | Steve Simmons | 7–9–4 | 1–3–1 | 5th | |||||
| 2008 | Steve Simmons | 11–6–4 | 4–1–1 | 2nd | |||||
| Steve Simmons: | 59–47–13 | 19–13–2 | |||||||
| Eric Luzzi (MAC) (2009–2016) | |||||||||
| 2009 | Eric Luzzi | 10–8–1 | 3–3 | 4th | |||||
| 2010 | Eric Luzzi | 9–6–2 | 2–4 | 5th | |||||
| 2011 | Eric Luzzi | 15–6 | 4–1 | 2nd | NCAA Round of 32 | ||||
| 2012 | Eric Luzzi | 7–10–3 | 4–2–1 | T–2nd | |||||
| 2013 | Eric Luzzi | 4–13–1 | 0–5–1 | 7th | |||||
| 2014 | Eric Luzzi | 3–9–5 | 0–4–1 | 6th | |||||
| 2015 | Eric Luzzi | 7–7–1 | 1–3–1 | 5th | |||||
| 2016 | Eric Luzzi | 2–10–4 | 1–3–1 | 5th | |||||
| Eric Luzzi: | 57–69–17 | 15–25–5 | |||||||
| Ryan Swan (MAC) (2017–present) | |||||||||
| 2017 | Ryan Swan | 3–11-1 | 0-4-1 | 6th | |||||
| 2018 | Ryan Swan | 8–9-1 | 1-4-0 | 6th | |||||
| 2019 | Ryan Swan | 7–10-1 | 2-3-0 | T-4th | |||||
| 2020-21 | Ryan Swan | 5–8-1 | 4-6-0 | 5th | |||||
| 2021 | Ryan Swan | 15–3-2 | 4-0-2 | 1st | NCAA Round of 32 | ||||
| 2022 | Ryan Swan | 5–8-4 | 2-5-1 | 4th | |||||
| Ryan Swan: | 1–0 | ||||||||
| Total: | 400–365–79 | ||||||||
|
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
| |||||||||
- Source: NIU Men's Soccer Record Book[4]
NCAA tournament
The Huskies have appeared in four NCAA Tournaments. Their combined record is 3–4.[4]
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result | NIU Head Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Round of 16 | SIU Edwardsville | L 3–0 | Dave Bucher |
| 2006 | First round Second Round | Loyola Chicago (7) Indiana | W 1–0 (OT) L 1–0 | Steve Simmons |
| 2011 | First round Second Round | Western Illinois (2) Creighton | W 3–0 L 3–0 | Eric Luzzi |
| 2021 | First round Second Round | Oaklnd Pittsburgh(5) | W 2–1 L 5–2 | Ryan Swan |
LeWang Cup
Since 1981, the winner of the annual match between NIU and UW-Milwaukee claims the John LeWang Memorial Cup. The trophy is named in honor of former NIU coach John LeWang, who was killed in a car accident prior to the 1981 season. LeWang came to NIU as head coach in 1980 following his time as an assistant at UW-Milwaukee and died in a car accident after his first season leading the Huskies.[5]
Match results
| NIU victories | Milwaukee victories |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Achievements
- Mid-American Conference Tournament:
- Winners (3): 2006, 2011, 2021
- Runners-up (3): 1999, 2008, 2012
- Mid-American Conference Regular Season:
- Winners (2): 2006, 2021
- Runners-up (5): 2004, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2012
- Mid-Continent Conference Regular Season:
- Winners (1): 1990
- Big Central Soccer Conference Tournament:
- Winners (1): 1989
- Midwest Metropolitan Conference Regular Season:
- Winners (1): 1984
- Runners-up (3): 1982, 1983, 1985
Honors
All-Americans
NIU men's soccer has had seven players named to All-America teams, including two NCAA First-Team All-Americans.[4]
| Year | Player | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Sweeper | Honorable Mention | |
| 1971 | Forward | Honorable Mention | |
| 1974 | Goalkeeper | First-Team | |
| 1975 | Goalkeeper | First-Team | |
| 1975 | Midfielder | Second-Team | |
| 1976 | Defender | Honorable Mention | |
| 1984 | Forward | Third-Team |
Academic All-Americans
NIU men's soccer has had a combined 13 players named to CoSIDA and NSCAA Academic All-America teams, including four First-Team Academic All-Americans.[4]
| Year | Player | Position | Organization | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Goalkeeper | NSCAA | Honorable Mention | |
| 1990 | Goalkeeper | NSCAA | First-Team | |
| 1991 | Goalkeeper | NSCAA | First-Team | |
| 1996 | Midfielder | CoSIDA | Second-Team | |
| 1997 | Midfielder | CoSIDA | Second-Team | |
| 1998 | Midfielder | CoSIDA | Second-Team | |
| 1999 | Midfielder | CoSIDA | First-Team | |
| 2000 | Defender | NSCAA | Second-Team | |
| 2002 | Defender | NSCAA | Second-Team | |
| 2003 | Defender | CoSIDA | Second-Team | |
| 2008 | Midfielder | CoSIDA | Second-Team | |
| 2010 | Midfielder | CoSIDA | First-Team | |
| 2014 | Defender | CoSIDA | Second-Team |
Freshman All-Americans
NIU men's soccer has had two players named to College Soccer News All-Freshman teams.[6]
| Year | Player | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Forward | Second-Team | |
| 2008 | Midfielder | Second-Team |
Coaches of the Year
NIU men's soccer has had three head coaches named Coach of the Year by the conference.[4]
| Year | Head Coach | Conference |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Mid-Continent | |
| 2004 | MAC | |
| 2006 | MAC |
References
- ↑ "NIU Athletic Marks Standards Guide" (PDF). July 12, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
- ↑ "MAC to Suspend Sponsoring Men's Soccer Following 2022 Season" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ↑ "Missouri Valley Conference To Expand in Men's Soccer for 2023" (Press release). Missouri Valley Conference. November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "NIU Men's Soccer Record Book" (PDF).
- ↑ Huskies Travel to Milwaukee for Lewang Cup Showdown
- ↑ College Soccer News All-Freshman Team Archives
