Northern Illinois Huskies The Northern Illinois Huskies are the athletic teams that represent Northern Illinois University . The Huskies are a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) Division I and the Mid - American Conference . The athletic program is made up of 7 men ' s sports ( baseball , basketball , football , golf , soccer , tennis , wrestling ) and 10 women ' s sports ( basketball , cross country , golf , gymnastics , soccer , softball , tennis , track , volleyball ) . The football team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision . Northern Illinois began athletic competition in 1899 and were nicknamed the Profs . In the 1920s , they were referred to as the Cardinals . During the 1930s they were called Evansmen after George " Chick " Evans . The Huskie mascot and nickname used today were officially chosen in 1940 . Men ' s athletics . Baseball . Northern Illinois baseball started playing in 1900 . The program was disbanded from 1983 through 1990 . They currently play home games at the Ralph McKinzie Field in Dekalb , Illinois . They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament twice ( 1972 , 1996 ) . Championships Basketball . Northern Illinois men ' s basketball started playing in 1900 . They currently play home games at the Convocation Center in DeKalb , Illinois . They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament three times ( 1982 , 1991 , 1996 ) . Championships Football . Northern Illinois football started playing in 1899 . As of 2011 , they have won 10 football conference titles , appeared in 12 Division I - A and College Division Bowl Games ( winning five ) . Championships Golf . The Northern Illinois men ' s golf team currently play their home matches at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove , Illinois . The team won the 1976 Mid American Conference Golf title and qualified for the 1976 NCAA Golf tournament . Soccer . The Northern Illinois men ' s soccer started playing in 1962 . They currently play their home games at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex . They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament two times ( 2006 , 2011 ) . Championships Tennis . The Northern Illinois men ' s tennis team had six players qualify for the NCAA tournament , one player twice and another player three times ( 1963 , 1968 , 1970 – 1973 , 1987 ) . Wrestling . The Northern Illinois Wrestling team started in 1931 , and first started competing in the Division I ( NCAA ) in 1969 . The team had 9 NCAA All - Americans & 96 wrestlers qualify for the NCAA tournament , with two winning the NCAA title . Three other Huskie Wrestlers won the NAIA championship ( 1958 ( @ 123 ) , 1961 ( @ 167 ) , 1961 ( @ 177 ) ) Ryan Ludwig ( three - time NAIA All - American and a national finalist at 157 pounds ) is currently in his 3rd season as head coach for the Huskies . Completed in the fall of 2008 , the Northern Illinois Wrestling Training Complex features everything a student - athlete needs to reach the highest levels on and off the mat . Women ' s athletics . Softball . Northern Illinois women ' s soccer started playing in 1959 . They currently play their home games at Mary M . Bell Field . They have made two NCAA Regional appearances ( 1988 , 1996 ) and one appearance in the world series ( 1988 ) . Championships Basketball . Northern Illinois women ' s basketball started playing in 1957 . They currently play home games at the Convocation Center in Dekalb , Illinois . They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament five times ( 1990 , 1992 , 1993 , 1994 , 1995 ) . Championships Soccer . Northern Illinois women ' s soccer started playing in 1993 . They currently play their home games at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex . Championships Volleyball . Northern Illinois women ' s volleyball started playing in 1970 . They currently play home games at the Convocation Center in Dekalb , Illinois . They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament six times ( 1993 , 1996 , 1997 , 1998 , 2001 , 2011 ) . Championships Tennis . Northern Illinois women ' s tennis team started playing in 1974 . They currently play their home games at the NIU West Tennis Courts . Championships Gymnastics . Northern Illinois women ' s gymnastics started playing in 1978 . They currently play home games at the Convocation Center in Dekalb , Illinois . Notable non varsity sports . Rugby . Founded in 1968 , the Northern Illinois Rugby Football Club plays college rugby in the Mid - American Conference conference of Division 1 - AA . The Huskies are led by Head Coach Kris Osterloh . The Huskies reached the 2013 D1 - AA national playoffs , but lost to Lindenwood in the round of 16 . Huskie Hall of Fame . The Huskie Hall of Fame first started in 1978 . There was an annual class induction since 1983 . Women were inducted into the Hall of Fame since 1986 . There are currently 179 individuals and 14 teams enshrined in the Huskie Hall of Fame .