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NIU basketball coach Matt Majkrzak and Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka
The sports world lost a legend last month when Mike Ditka passed away at the age of 86. The man who played for and coached the Bears was an almost mythical figure in Chicago and the surrounding area, and NIU’s new basketball coach absolutely nailed the tribute we were treated to when he headed out onto the court on Wednesday night.
Mike Ditka may have been born and raised in Pennsylvania, but it’s hard to think of many people who embody the spirit of Chicago like the man who spent the first six seasons of his NFL career as a tight end for the Bears before supplementing the Super Bowl ring he won with another he earned during the 11 seasons he spent as the head coach of the franchise.
The famously hard-nosed figure was defined by the aesthetic that was immortalized in the Saturday Night Live sketches where he was positioned as a borderline deity by the group of mustachioed superfans who rooted for “Daaaa Bears,” and most people who attempt to capture his essence will also throw on a pair of aviator sunglasses and a sweater vest while wielding a cigar.
NIU men’s basketball coach Matt Majkrzak skipped a couple of those accessories when he channeled his inner Ditka during a game, but he certainly hit the nail on the head with the tribute he threw together.
NIU coach Matt Majkrzak picked up a razor to cap off an A+ outfit inspired by Mike Ditka
The men’s basketball team at Northern Illinois decided to go in a new direction after Rashon Burno posted a 48–106 record during the five seasons he spent as the head coach of the Huskies, and Matt Majkrzak got his first chance to lead a Division I program after going 136–78 during his seven years at Northern Michigan.
It goes without saying that the best way to get a new fanbase on your side is to prove you can win, and Majkrzak’s tenure got off to a rough start after his team lost its first two games.
However, they bounced back with a win over Dayton and improved to 2-2 by securing an 82-43 victory in the buy game they were expected to win against Clarke University (an NAIA program) in their home opener at the NIU Convocation Center on Wednesday night.
Majkrzak went out of his way to endear himself to members of the NIU faithful by ditching the beard he was rocking at the start of his inaugural season in favor of the mustache he debuted while sporting a Dikta-inspired sweater vest emblazoned with “HUSKIES” instead of “BEARS.”
NIU MBB coach Matt Majkrzak honors Mike Ditka 🧡 https://t.co/eVlXiUIMFa
— ESPN (@espn) November 12, 2026
It’s worth noting that Ditka also has a basketball connection, as he played the sport alongside football and baseball during his time at Pitt before taking his talents to the NFL.