Enjoy the first FRAZIER’S CORNER of 2023 from NIU Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation Sean T. Frazier to Huskie fans.

Happy New Year Huskies!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and a great start to 2023. I love the “fresh start” of a new year and especially, a new semester here on campus. While the students and campus really come to life next week with the start of spring classes, we are already “full speed ahead” here at NIU Athletics.

Already this year, the Huskie Basketball teams opened Mid-American Conference play with home victories, and gymnastics started its season with a win and an impressive score. The women’s tennis and indoor track & field teams are in action for the first time in 2023 this week, while softball is already on campus preparing for its February opener. Wrestling is rolling after winning its first two MAC duals, led by Top 10 ranked senior 165-pounder Izzak Olejnik. I can’t wait to welcome all of our teams, and all of our students, back to DeKalb when classes get underway next Tuesday.

Speaking of welcomes, we had a chance to officially introduce new volleyball head coach Sondra Parys to NIU on Tuesday. We announced the Crystal Lake native and Loyola assistant as our seventh head volleyball coach in December. Her family, including her NIU alumni parents, as well as Huskie supporters, were able to attend the introduction in Victor E. Court.  You can watch it here, on our official NIU Athletics YouTube Channel. I believe Sondra is going to infuse this program with new energy, connect with student-athletes and help them develop both on and off the court as we look for a return to contending for championships each year.

Of course, a new year also brings change. We’ve seen student-athletes graduate, transfers come and go, and we signed a new group of Huskies for 2023-24.  On December 21, football coach Thomas Hammock announced the signing of 18 newcomers for 2023. They’ll be joined by several transfers who will be introduced next week once classes have started. After the final set of 2023 additions are announced in February, Huskie fans are invited to join Hammock, his staff, and special guests, including current and former players, for “A Night with NIU Football.” The free event will be held in the Novak Room at Fatty’s Pub & Grille on Friday, February 10 from 5:30-7 p.m. Pre-registration is required with information on how to register available soon.

The transfer portal, and the ability for student-athletes to benefit from their Name, Image and Likeness, which then gave rise to collectives, has changed recruiting and the way that rosters are constructed. That is why NIU Athletics’ partnership with Opendorse, the launch of NIU’s school-specific marketplace and the introduction of the Boneyard Victor E. Collective is so important to all of our programs moving forward.

As we announced in mid-December, the Boneyard Victor E. Collective assists student-athletes in leveraging their NIL opportunities and provides a way for fans and companies to directly support Huskie student-athletes. The NIU Huskies NIL Marketplace, powered by Opendorse, allows organizations and individuals to connect with specific NIU student-athletes and facilitates NIL deals. Anyone can support Huskie student-athletes and participate in the Boneyard Collective, which is operated by a third party, and access the NIL Marketplace.

While the transfer portal and NIL have had a huge effect on all of our sports, more change is on the horizon following the report and recommendations released by the NCAA Transformation Committee. The NCAA has already begun to take action on those recommendations during this week’s NCAA Convention. Change is here and we are working to make sure NIU is prepared to address the growing needs of student-athletes, whether that is in increased coaching and support staffs, increased support in areas like nutrition and mental health, career guidance and even post-graduate care.

While we have taken strides in these areas – including hiring four new full-time athletic trainers and a mental health professional – more will be needed and that means more resources will be needed to ensure Huskie student-athletes have everything they need to compete for championships. We have amazing donors and our success in fundraising through efforts like Huskies Invest and the Victor E. Bash have produced outstanding results. With your support, I am confident NIU programs and student-athletes will continue to thrive in this new era of college athletics.

GO HUSKIES!

Sean T. Frazier

Vice President & Director of Athletics and Recreation