Lose an assistant coach, gain an assistant coach.
As wide receivers coach Thad Ward bolts for the running backs job at Illinois, Northern Illinois has reportedly struck back with a strong hire, as they are set to hire Bob Bostad as offensive line coach according to FootballScoop. (Full disclosure: I also write for FootballScoop.)
Bostad is a career offensive line coach, crafting blocking schemes continuously since 1990. He made his name as the offensive line coach under Bret Bielema at Wisconsin, where the Badgers finished with top-15 rushing attacks in each of his final four seasons in Madison.
Bostad left Wisconsin to become the offensive line coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, then joined the Tennessee Titans as offensive line coach in 2014, where he currently remains.
Northern Illinois currently lists Joe Tripodi as its offensive line coach and run game coordinator. With Ward’s departure, it’s possible head coach Rod Carey will keep Tripodi on while shuffling staff assignments.
After finishing in the top 18 nationally in rushing annually from 2009-14, Northern Illinois plunged to 41st in 2015. The Huskies yards per carry fell from 5.05 in 2014 to 4.14 in 2015 while their sacks allowed spiked from 14 to 32.
