University of Toledo football coach Matt Campbell will name Northern Illinois assistant Tom Matukewicz as his defensive coordinator, The Blade has learned.
Matukewicz, 38, was NIU's linebackers coach the past four seasons and is a product of former NIU and current Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill. The Huskies won the Mid-American Conference last season before topping Arkansas State, 38-20, in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.
Matukewicz served as NIU's interim coach in the 2010 Humanitarian Bowl and led the team to a 40-17 win over Fresno State.
In Matukewicz, Campbell makes his first big hire since being named head coach in December. UT's defense struggled last season under Co-coordinators Mike Ward and Paul Nichols, rankings 93rd nationally in scoring at 31.7 points per game. Ward has followed former UT coach Tim Beckman to Illinois, and Nichols is still employed by UT.
NIU upended UT, 63-60, on Nov. 1 in a game played at the Glass Bowl.
NIU's defense finished last season 85th in scoring but was much better in Matukewicz's first three years at the school, ranking 14th (2010), 30th (2009) and 14th (2008).