Novak promotes Doornbos to NIU defensive coordinator post

Northern Illinois head football coach Joe Novak opted to promote Denny Doornbos to the Huskie defensive coordinator post following the departure of Scott Shafer, who took as assistant post at Illinois under Illini defensive coordinator and former NIU D-chief Mike Mallory. NIU Media Services Photo

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DeKALB - Promoting Northern Illinois University's Denny Doornbos from linebacker coach to defensive coordinator was more than rational. It was a natural. Which is exactly why NIU head coach Joe Novak made the move and announced the promotion Tuesday. Less than 11 months after joining the Huskie staff, the 48-year-old Doornbos (Pronunciation: DORN-boss) became the Northern Illinois defensive boss - a responsibility that the Jenison, Mich., native handled for 10 seasons at Army (1990-99) and three years at the University of Texas-El Paso (1983-85). Doornbos also retained his duties as Huskie linebackers coach. The promotion came about when Scott Shafer - a member of Novak's original coaching NIU braintrust in 1996 and the program's defensive coordinator the last four seasons (2000-03) - was named secondary coach at the end of December on the University of Illinois staff under head coach Ron Turner. "Denny is an experienced coach and has served as the defensive coordinator at Army and UTEP," Novak said. "Last year, we kind of hired him with the thought that if something happened to Scott, then Denny would be the perfect guy to succeed him. Denny has been around some good programs and top-notch coaches. Best of all, he knows our 'Attack Four-Three' scheme backwards and forwards." During the 10-2 Northern Illinois campaign last autumn, not only did Doornbos tutor two All-Mid-American Conference performers at linebacker in First-Teamer Brian Atkinson and Honorable Mention pick Nick Duffy, but five of his backers - Atkinson No. 1 with 108 total stops, Javan Lee No. 5 with 68 hits, Kursten Strothman No. 6 with 67, Duffy No. 7 with 62 tackles, and Jason Hawkins No. 11 with 56 stops - ranked among the program's top eleven tacklers in 2003. "This is a great opportunity for me," Doornbos said. "When you consider what Joe Novak and this program has accomplished - particularly the last four years. I love working with Joe and this coaching staff. I've never been on a better staff. The players are awesome. Joe has done a great job recruiting quality, character kids in the program. I thought the kids at West Point were great workers. Our kids are as good or better workers and quality young people as well." Last season's Huskie "Attack Four-Three" alignment ranked No. 3 in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1-A pass interceptions (23), No. 6 in turnover margin (+1.2 pg.), No. 31 in scoring defense (21.5 ppg.), and No. 37 in pass efficiency defense (166.06 rating). "For us, it's a great scheme," Doornbos said. "We totally believe in what we do. I don't forsee any changes. In our profession, you constantly review things. You have to stay on top of what's happening because things change. We've lost some good people and we also have some guys with good experience. We have a good nucleus back." Novak and Doornbos are old compatriots. Their relaltionship dates back to 1978-79 when Doornbos was a part-time coach helping Novak with the defensive line at the University of Illinois in the Gary Moeller era. Doornbos brings 23 years of major-college experience into the 2004 season - including 14 seasons with the Black Knights under Jim Young (1986-90) and Bob Sutton (1991-99). In 1996, when Army finished 10-1 and won a berth in the Indepen-dence Bowl opposite Auburn University, his platoon rated No. 6 nationally in rushing defense (89.0 ypg. yield), No. 9 in 1-A total defense (256.3 ypg.), and No. 18 in scoring defense (17.5 ppg.). Earlier at the U. S. Military Academy, Doornbos worked with the tight ends (1986-87) and defensive ends (1988-90). During 1983-85, he was the defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach under head man Bill Yung at UTEP. In 1982, Doornbos was a graduate assistant and worked with the inside linebackers - including one named Mike Mallory - under the legendary Bo Schembechler at the University of Michigan when the Wolverines won the Big Ten Conference title, finished 8-4, and played UCLA in the Rose Bowl. He coached on the defensive side of the ball for Ed Chlebek at both Boston College (1980) and Kent State University (1981). His coaching career started at Western Michigan University after a career-ending injury. Doornbos assisted WMU boss Elliot Uzelac with the secondary, inside linebackers, and O-line as an undergrad. Not only did he coach against NIU - four times with WMU (1975-78), once with Kent State (1981), and once with Army (1992), Doornbos notched three tackles as a starting frosh roverback in a 30-13 win in Huskie Stadium during 1974. A four-sport man in football (3), basketball (3), baseball (2), and track (1) at Jenison High School, he was an Honorable Mention All-State linebacker-tight end as a senior in 1973 Doornbos made 129 tackles and 21 catches for 301 yards and three TDs in his final year at JHS. He received a bachelor of science degrree in industrial education from WMU in 1978. Doornbos is married to the former Helen Sandford of Winchester, Ma.,. The couple has two sons, Blaik and Darik.