NIC-10's 100 Greatest Football Players: No. 41 - Lee Hicks, West

Lee Hicks was a defensive dynamo that led both West and Northern Illinois University to heights not seen in decades.

At West, Hicks starred on both sides of the ball. In 1980, he finished second in the Big Nine in rushing with 750 yards rushing. But he was named All-Conference on defense as a linebacker. Hicks, along with future NIU teammates Vernon and Reggie Sims, powered the Warriors to a 9-3 record and the semifinals of the IHSA Class 5A playoffs. It was West's best season since 1964.

Hicks joined NIU at an opportune time. Coach Bill Mallory took over the program in 1979 from coach Pat Culpepper, who went 14-29 in four years. In fact, since joining NCAA Division 1A in 1968, the Huskies had had just two winning seasons - 1972 and 1973.

Mallory changed that immediately, going 7-4 in 1980. The Huskies took a step back in 1981, going 3-8, but the Huskies were a gathering storm. Hicks moved into the starting lineup in 1982 as a safety. NIU got off to a 1-4 start, but responded by winning four of the final five to finish 5-5.

In 1983, the Huskies opened eyes by edging Kansas of the Big 8, 37-34, to open the season. NIU fell to Wisconsin in the second week, but then ran off six straight wins. A 17-0 loss to Miami of Ohio put their MAC championship hopes in peril, but NIU finished the season off with wins over Toledo and Ohio to nail down the first bowl game since joining the NCAA's highest level.

The Huskies finished the season in style by knocking off Cal State Fullerton in the California Bowl.

Mallory parlayed NIU's success into the head coaching job at Indiana, where he'd stay until retiring after the 1996 season.

Hicks played his senior year under Lee Corso. The Huskies fell to 4-6-1, but Hicks was chosen to the second team All-MAC defensive team. He finished his NIU career with 274 tackles, 13 for loss, and 10 interceptions. Only Auburn's Seth Miller has more interceptions at the NCAA Division I level.

Hicks eventually earned a master's degree in mental health counseling. Today, he's a parent educator and facilitator for the Youth Service Bureau of Illinois Valley.

No. 41 - Lee Hicks, West
Year	Level	School	Accomplishments	Points
1979	High School	West	Winning Team	1
1980	High School	West	First Team All-Conference	2
			Conference Champion	1
			Playoffs	1
			IHSA Semifinals	1
1981	College	Northern Illinois	Letter Winner in NCAA Div. 1A	3.5
1982	College	Northern Illinois	Letter Winner in NCAA Div. 1A	3.5
			Starter	1
			Winning Team	1
1983	College	Northern Illinois	Letter Winner in NCAA Div. 1A	3.5
			Starter	1
			Winning Team	1
			Bowl Game	1
1984	College	Northern Illinois	Letter Winner in NCAA Div. 1A	3.5
			Starter	1
			All-MAC selection	1
Total				27

NIC-10's 100 Greatest Football Players