Quinn Sanders to take over as NIU offensive coordinator

Quinn Sanders, who directed a record-setting offense while leading Division II University of Charleston (West Virginia) to unprecedented success as head coach, has been named offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Northern Illinois University, head coach Thomas Hammock announced Tuesday.

“We are excited to have Quinn Sanders join our staff as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach,” Hammock said. “He excelled at every level – from position coach to coordinator to head coach - throughout his time at Charleston and led that program to new heights. His ability to reimagine the way we play offense and to put our players in the best position to be successful led me to bring him to NIU. He is an excellent teacher at the quarterback position, which I know will benefit our players in that room.”

Sanders replaces former coordinator Wesley Beschorner, who was fired after NIU’s 20-9 loss to Miami of Ohio on Nov. 19.

Sanders, a 2011 University of Charleston graduate, has been a member of the Golden Eagles’ coaching staff since 2015. Over the last three seasons as head coach, he led Charleston to a 27-8 record, including an impressive 21-3 over the past two seasons. Sanders earned Mountain East Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2023 and 2024 after leading Charleston to back-to-back MEC titles and to the NCAA D-II playoffs.

The 2024 team finished the regular season 11-0. Mountain East Offensive Player of the Year Chavon Wright set the NCAA single-season record with 38 rushing touchdowns and led all NCAA divisions in rushing yards and touchdowns. The Golden Eagles finished the regular season ranked sixth in the AFCA Coaches Poll and ninth in D2football.com rankings.

Charleston averaged at least 44 points per game in both 2023 and 2024 with an offense ranked in the top 10 in the country in seven categories last season. Quarterback Ean Hamric led D-II in completion percentage and was second in quarterback rating.

“This is an amazing opportunity to get a chance to work at NIU with coach Hammock,” Sanders said. “NIU has an incredible tradition, and I can’t wait to get to work with these great coaches and bring more championships to NIU and to this university. The opportunity to come here – with as much history and prestige as the football program and university have – was something special, and after bringing [Mountain East Conference] championships to Charleston in the last two years, this is the right place for me to take the next step.”

From February 2021 until he was named head coach in March 2022, Sanders served as Charleston’s offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator as the Golden Eagles won the MEC South Championship while scoring 37 points and averaging 427 yards per game. He developed MEC Player of the Year and current Las Vegas Raiders running back Tyreek McCallister and two-time all-conference quarterback Guy Myers.

Sanders spent the 2017-19 seasons as quarterbacks coach, passing game coordinator and recruiting coordinator. The Golden Eagles set school records for passing yards, touchdowns and completions in 2019 under quarterback Brant Grisel, who earned Academic All-America honors.

Sanders began his coaching career at the University of Charleston in June 2013, assisting with quarterbacks and running backs while contributing to scouting and opponent analysis. After one season at Midwestern State University, where he coached two all-conference players and contributed to a top-10 national rushing offense, Sanders returned to Charleston as wide receivers coach, video and recruiting coordinator in 2015.

A native of Seagrove Beach, Florida, Sanders graduated from the University of Charleston in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in pre-law.

The NIU football team wrapped up the 2024 season with an 8-5 record, culminating with a double-overtime victory over Fresno State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and highlighted by a 16-14 win over fifth-ranked Notre Dame, the first win by a Mid-American Conference team over a top-five team.