Marquette, MI – March 26th, 2026 – Northern Illinois made a major move this past Tuesday, announcing the hiring of Matt Majkrzak as the program’s 30th head men’s basketball coach.
Majkrzak’s path to this opportunity has been anything but ordinary. When he arrived at Northern Michigan University in 2019, he brought just one year of head coaching experience from Bryant & Stratton. In that lone season, he guided the Bobcats to a historic 25–8 record and a trip to the NJCAA Region IV Finals, the first appearance in program history. Along the way, Bryant & Stratton earned the No. 1 ranking in its region and climbed as high as 17th nationally.
Interestingly, Majkrzak admitted during his appearance on the Big Local Sports Show two weeks ago that he didn’t initially believe he had a real shot at the NMU job. Instead, he approached the opportunity as a way to gain interview experience. However, after meeting with Rick Comley and the search committee, it quickly became clear that he was the right fit. Just one week later, in 2019, he was officially named the 15th head coach in program history.
Success followed quickly in Marquette. Over seven seasons, Majkrzak compiled an impressive 136–73 record, guiding the Wildcats to four GLIAC championships (regular season and tournament combined). He was named GLIAC Coach of the Year twice and led NMU to four consecutive NCAA Division II Tournament appearances.
Majkrzak also played a key role in developing top-tier talent. During his tenure, he coached multiple GLIAC Players of the Year, including Max Weisbrod (2024) and Dylan Kuehl (2026), along with more than a dozen All-GLIAC selections.
Following the announcement of his new position, Majkrzak shared his appreciation for his time at Northern Michigan:
“My wife Lindsey and I couldn’t have loved our seven years at Northern Michigan more, and I am so grateful for the opportunity. We created many lifelong friends and relationships. We are excited to get to DeKalb and become active members of the university, athletic department, and community.”
Majkrzak was formally introduced on campus Tuesday during a press conference marking the start of his tenure at Northern Illinois. Click this link to find the press conference.
With his departure, Northern Michigan now begins the search for its 16th head men’s basketball coach. Once a replacement is announced, you can expect full coverage right here on Fox Sports Marquette.
