March 1, 2008

John Hauser was named defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Wayne State on March 1, 2008.

He spent the previous five seasons at Northern Illinois including the last two as defensive backs coach. He spent his first three years in DeKalb as a graduate assistant.

In 2007, NIU rookie strong safety Alex Kube was named to The Sporting News Freshman All-American squad.

The previous year (2006), one of his defensive backs (Dustin Ustchig) earned Second Team All-MAC (Mid-American Conference) honors after leading the Huskies in tackles and pass break-ups.

In his initial season at NIU, the Huskies won 10 regular-season games including upsets of Maryland, Alabama and Iowa State. He was on the sidelines and worked with the NIU secondary as a graduate assistant coach in 2004 when the Huskies played in the Silicon Valley Classic and in 2005 when NIU advanced to the Mid-American Conference Championship Game.

He saw Lionel Hickenbottom (2004) and Ray Smith (2005) precede Utschig as All-MAC choices at safety.

Prior to coming to Northern Illinois, Hauser briefly worked on the football staff at his alma mater, Wittenberg University, where he was a four-year letterwinner at free safety. During his playing career, Wittenberg won 44 of 50 games, captured three North Coast Athletic Conference Championships and made four consecutive appearances in the NCAA Division III Playoffs.

As a player, Hauser was a three-time All-NCAC selection - in 2000, 2001 and 2002 - and was twice named to the Football Gazette All-North Region squad. As a senior, he earned Division III All-America honors and was selected to participate in the 2002 Aztec Bowl, a Division III all-star game.

Hauser transferred to Wittenberg after beginning his collegiate playing career at Ball State, where he was a walk-on member of the football squad.

He graduated from Bishop Hartley High School in Columbus, Ohio as a seven-time varsity letterwinner in football (4) and baseball (3). A free safety, linebacker and running back on the gridiron, he earned Second Team All-State honors at linebacker in 1997 and was a first team All-Central Catholic League selection. On the diamond, Bishop Hartley won the state Division 4 title in 1996 with Hauser at shortstop.

Hauser graduated from Wittenberg in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in business management. He earned his master's degree in adult education from NIU in 2007.