DeKalb, IL (Sports Network) - On the same day Northern Illinois captured the Mid-American Conference's first BCS bowl berth, the program announced Rod Carey will take over the head-coaching reins after Dave Doeren resigned on Saturday.
Doeren guided the Huskies to a second straight MAC championship on Friday, but a day later took his services to NC State, which fired head coach Tom O'Brien last week. The news came one day before the Huskies were rewarded with a BCS appearance, earning a trip to the Orange Bowl against Florida State.
Carey was an assistant under Doeren the past two years, serving as the offensive coordinator this season after Mike Dunbar left the team for health reasons following the first game.
The Huskies gained an FBS-best 4,733 yards of offense this season en route to a 12-1 record.
"What we need in our program is consistency and stability, and I believe that Rod brings that," Northern Illinois director of athletics Jeff Compher said. "This will allow us to stay on our current trajectory as a nationally- prominent program."
Carey had been an offensive line coach at the University of North Dakota for three seasons prior to joining Doeren's staff.
