With NFL buzz surrounding Northern Illinois Huskies head coach Thomas Hammock fielding calls for interviews, who could take his place?
Northern Illinois in the Market for a New Head Coach?
NFL insider Ian Rapoport posted an intriguing tidbit that makes people simultaneously scratch their heads and nod in acceptance. Hammock, according to Rapoport, received three interview requests from NFL teams. That places the Huskies in a precarious yet intriguing spot.
If Hammock leaves NIU, who will patrol the sidelines in DeKalb, Illinois?
Jordan Lynch, Head Coach, Mount Carmel High School
When you look at recent Huskies memory and the best players to wear their uniform, Jordan Lynch comes to mind. In 28 games as the starting quarterback, Lynch won 24 contests. On top of that, he accounted for 100 total touchdowns and 10,552 total yards.
MORE: 2025 Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25 Power Rankings
Lynch set the NCAA record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 1,920. He led the Huskies to an appearance in the 2013 Orange Bowl. Currently, he serves as the head coach of Mount Carmel High School (Chicago). While that may seem like a big jump, Northern Illinois wouldn’t mind making a huge splash as they head to the Mountain West.
Wesley Beschorner, Offensive Coordinator, Northern Illinois
While not the flashy choice, Wesley Beschorner put the time in, paying his dues. The current NIU offensive coordinator boasts college head coaching experience, as he helmed the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Beschomer orchestrated the 16th best rushing attack in the FBS (203.7 yards per game) last season. However, don’t pigeonhole him into a run-heavy coordinator, as Beschomer possesses extensive experience with passing attacks, not only as a former QB but also as a passing game coordinator.
Brad Spencer, Head Coach, North Central College
Now, this would excite locals and potentially change the recruiting balance. Brad Spencer, fresh off two Division III national championships in the last three years, has a record of 44-1. Spencer knows the fertile Midwest recruitment area like few others and maintains connections with just about every high school in the state.
That factors into North Central’s national dominance. Plus, seeing how he could use his winning formula with quadruple the resources could actually help the Huskies. If you have a coach who understands budget constraints and doesn’t need excessive amounts of cash flow to succeed, everyone wins.
Don Beebe, Head Coach, Aurora University
After an NFL career that included five trips to the Super Bowl and a ring with the Green Bay Packers, Don Beebe settled into coaching, first at Aurora Christian High School and now at Aurora University. Beebe transformed an also-ran Division III school into a perennial power, compiling a 48-5 record and multiple trips to the postseason.
Beebe also runs a speed camp where athletes from across the country lean on him to become faster by using his techniques. At Northern Illinois, focusing on speed and explosion will help when dealing with the wide-open offenses of the Mountain West.
Will Stein, Co-Offensive Coordinator/QBs Coach, Oregon
As NIU potentially heads into a new era, why not make a play for a young coordinator? Will Stein is directly responsible for turning Bo Nix from an Auburn Tigers washout to a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Stein loves to throw the ball with both volume and accuracy. Regardless of whether it’s Nix or Dillon Gabriel, Stein’s quarterbacks learned to process and run through their progressions faster, with enough touch on the ball through mechanical overhaul to execute big plays.
Overview of Thomas Hammock’s Situation
While still in the rumor phase, Hammock’s defeat of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in 2024 and multiple bowl wins have earned inquiring phone calls. At the same time, Northern Illinois cannot hesitate to make a move if their coach leaves.
KEEP READING: Which College Coaches Are Interviewing for NFL Roles?
The Huskies departed the MAC looking for a bigger piece of the spotlight in the Mountain West. Now, in order to fully embrace the anticipated high-scoring games ahead, bringing in someone familiar with throwing the ball makes the most sense.
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.
