Report: Northern Illinois offensive coordinator Bob Cole 'will not return"

The post-Poinsettia Bowl aftermath continues for Northern Illinois.

Just days after Northern Illinois defensive coordinator Jay Niemann left DeKalb for the sunny city of Piscataway, it seems as if offensive coordinator Bob Cole will also be leaving the program. Per The Football Scoop, sources have indicated that Cole "will not return" as OC for Northern Illinois.

Cole, who has been with the program since 2011, has seen a great amount of success in DeKalb, spending the last three seasons as the Huskies' offensive coordinator after two surefire seasons as a positions coach. In 2011, Cole spent a season as wide receivers coach before being placed as quarterbacks coach in 2012.

Jordan Lynch had an astounding amount of success under Cole's tutelage, winning 2012 Mid-American Conference MVP honors after a season that say Lynch average 356.8 yards per game and an NCAA-leading 12 rushing touchdowns. Lynch was also the first quarterback in NCAA history to pass for 3,000+ yards and run for 1,500+ yards in the same season in 2013, when he finished 3rd in the Heisman voting. Cole's play calling helped lead the Huskies to breaking three conference records and nine program offensive records in 2013 alone.

Cole has a long coaching history, starting his career with Sonoma State University (1988-1992) after graduating as a Division III National Champion quarterback at Widener University. Cole has also had stops at Portland State (1993-1998), Montana (1999), Utah State (2000-2004), Florida A&M (2005-2007), Wyoming (2008) and Western Kentucky (2009-2011).