Neil Novak enters his third season (2023) as an assistant coach with Wayne State football. After spending his first season coaching defensive line, Novak has served the last two seasons as special teams coordinator and coach defensive backs.
Wayne State finished the 2022 season at 9-3 overall, advancing to the NCAA Division II playoffs for just the second time in school history, while winning the NSIC overall title (9-2) for the first time in school history.
Novak came to Wayne State after serving the previous two years as defensive coordinator at Mid America Nazarene in Kansas where he helped the Pioneers to a 7-4 record in the 2019 season.
Other coaching stops for Novak include two years at Northwest Missouri State where he worked with the defensive line and assisted with special teams, helping the Bearcats to three NCAA Division II playoff games in his two seasons.
Novak began his coaching career at Black Hills State where he was a graduate assistant coach working with safeties for two years.
A native of Rock Springs, Wyoming, Novak played collegiate football at Chadron State (1 1/2 years) and Black Hills State and earned a bachelor's degree from Black Hills State in December, 2014 majoring in physical education.
Neil and his wife Sami reside in Wayne with their son Mavrik.
