Greg Colby spent six seasons as NU's defensive coordinator.Greg Colby spent six seasons as NU's defensive coordinator.

Northwestern Announces that Greg Colby Will Not Return in 2008

Dec. 3, 2007

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern head football coach Pat Fitzgerald announced Monday that defensive coordinator Greg Colby will not return as the Wildcats' defensive coordinator for 2008.

Colby spent six years (2002-07) as Northwestern's defensive coordinator after serving in the same capacity at Kent State from 1998 through 2001. A 1975 graduate of Illinois, Colby also had assistant coaching stints at Illinois (1988-95) and Michigan State (1995-97).

"I want to thank Greg for his contributions to Northwestern's football program," said Fitzgerald."I've decided, however, it's time to make a change in our defensive leadership. We will start looking for a successor immediately."

NU NOTES: Northwestern finished the 2007 season 6-6 (3-5 Big Ten) and was bowl-eligible, but did not earn a postseason berth due to the fact that the Big Ten Conference produced a record 10 bowl-eligible teams this year and there were no available slots for its two six-win teams (NU and Iowa). The Wildcats ended up playing eight bowl-eligible teams, seven of which landed in postseason games. Northwestern defeated three bowl-bound teams: Nevada, Michigan State and Indiana.