Two Big Changes at NU
Just
days before NU is to take on Ohio State in the Big Ten title game, the
school's athletic department saw two dramatic changes. Jim
Phillips, NU's long-serving AD, will leave Northwestern to take over as
commissioner of the ACC. And Mike Hankwitz, the Wildcats' defensive
coordinator, will retire after fifty years of coaching. The moves,
disclosed within hours of each other, are a seismic shift to a football
program that is famous for its rock-steady stability.
Phillips replaced Mark Murphy as AD in 2008, and he has spent the last
13 years elevating Northwestern's presence on the national sports
stage. In 2015 Phillips was named the first-ever chair of the NCAA's
Division I Council and has served on a slew of other national councils
and panels. He oversaw (with the exception of Ryan Field itself) the
renovation and modernization of most of NU's athletic campus, including
the transformation of Welsh-Ryan Arena and the new Ryan Fieldhouse.
Most importantly, Phillips maintained the academic excellence and
ethical integrity of the athletic program, with no major NCAA
violations on his watch. In 2020, NU's athletic department achieved a
97% Graduation Success Rate, leading all FBS schools for the third
straight year.
Hankwitz will wrap up his tenure at NU at the end of this season. To
say that he has succeeded with the Wildcats is a gross understatement:
his defenses are among the best the school has ever developed. After
stints with Wisconsin and several other schools, his final year at NU
might be his best ever-- the 'Cats' defense this year is poised to set
records.
2020 has been tumultuous for other, obviously more critical reasons.
It's safe to say, however, that this season marks the end of an era for
NU sports, and the '21 Wildcats will have a daunting set of roles to
fill and high standards to maintain.
