Veteran assistant Kyle Nystrom to be challenged at Northern Michigan
Kyle Nystrom waited a long time to become a head football coach and the longtime assistant is ready to open practice next week at Northern Michigan University - a place he knows well.
Nystrom, who left as co-defensive coordinator at Ferris State to take over the Wildcats in December, has a team with more than 40 newcomers.
"Our first goal is to get training camp solidified and to have a good camp," Nystrom said. "We want to see what we have and then move forward developing a good football team. From there we will move on to focusing on Angelo State, and the rest will come later."
Nystrom has a long history as an assistant coach, much of it in Michigan. Most notable was his stint as interim coach at Central Michigan in 2015 after Dan Enos left in January.
The defensive coaching specialist, who is a Michigan State grad, went from five seasons at CMU to Ferris State where he served two seasons.
Before those stops, Nystrom's Michigan connection also featured 13 seasons at Western Michigan from 1989-2001.
Practice begins on Monday for many teams.
He has also been an assistant at Fort Hays State (2009), North Dakota State (2006-08), Depauw (2005) and TCU (2002-04).
Now Nystrom comes full circle with his first job as head coach at a place very familar to him. His father, Carl "Buck" Nystrom, was line coach for the Wildcats from 1975-80, was an associate head coach from 1987-90 and is a member of the NMU hall of fame.
"I grew up on (Memorial) Field as a child," Nystrom told the Mining Journal at the time of his interview. "When my dad took the assistant job here, I was in fifth grade, and from that moment on I was on the field. All those players and coaches became my heroes, and as a grad assistant they all became close to my heart and soul.
"We had great teams. To see the program in the shape it's in and not display the pride we all went through, it gives me a heavy heart, and I think I'm the only one who can fix it."
Also, Nystrom's first job after leaving Michigan State as a student assistant in 1983 was as an assistant at Northern Michigan in 1988.
Nystrom has work ahead of him at Northern Michigan. The Wildcats finished 3-8 last season to mark seven seasons below .500 and led to the departure of fifth-year coach Chris Ostrowsky.
A top priority with be finding a replacement for departed senior quarterback Shaye Brown.
"We are in good shape on our offensive line and with our receivers," said Nystrom, who has back three of the Wildcats' top four receivers. "At this point finding a starting quarterback is pivotal."
Northern Michigan opens the season Sept. 9 at Angelo State.
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