Jay Niemann

Rutgers will hire Jay Niemann as defensive coordinator. (Northern Illinois Athletics)

Rutgers coach Chris Ash reached deep into his background to find his defensive coordinator. Ash will hire Northern Illinois defensive coordinator Jay Niemann to lead the defense, according to multiple sources. The hire was first reported by footballscoop.com.

Niemann was the defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator at Drake in 1994-95 while Ash was playing safety at the Division 1-AA program in Iowa.

A 55-year-old Iowa native, Niemann has been the defensive coordinator/safeties coach at Northern Illinois since 2011. Northern Illinois won three MAC championships during Niemann's five seasons as defensive coordinator. The Huskies went 8-6 this season, losing 55-7 to Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 23.

Rutgers officially announced the hire on Wednesday afternoon.

"Jay will be a great addition to our coaching staff as defensive coordinator," Ash said in a statement. "Jay and I have known each other for over 20 years and I have always admired his approach to coaching. Jay and I share a defensive philosophy. It will be a defense built on effort, fundamentals, execution and toughness."

Northern Illinois was Niemann's first job at a Division 1-A program. He was the co-defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach at Hardin-Simmons, a Division 3 program in Texas, from 2008-10. Before that, Niemann was the head coach at Simpson College, a Division 3 program in Iowa, from 2002-07. Niemann posted a 32-29 record in six seasons as a head coach.

Niemann was an assistant at Division 1-AA Northern Iowa from 1997-2001, serving as defensive coordinator, linebackers coach and defensive backs coach during different times during his tenure. He was an assistant at Drake from 1989-96 where his path first crossed with Ash as a player.

Niemann made $163,002 this year, according to a USA Today Sports salary database.

Ash has now filled seven of his nine full-time assistant spots. Ash has hired offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer, special teams coordinator Vince Okruch, offensive line coach A.J. Blazek, wide receivers coach Zak Kuhr, defensive backs coach Bill Busch and assistant defensive backs coach Aaron Henry. The remaining openings are expected to be filled by a running backs coach and a defensive coach. None of the assistants have New Jersey ties.

Dan Duggan may be reached at dduggan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DDuggan21. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.