GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) Southern Illinois assistant Kyle "Bubba" Schweigert was hired Tuesday as the football coach at North Dakota, returning to the school where he was the defensive coordinator when it won the 2001 NCAA Division II national title.

He inherits a team that went 3-8 this year and succeeds Chris Mussman, who was fired after six seasons. Schweigert will be introduced at a news conference Friday.

Schweigert said in a statement he wants to solidify relations with fans, alumni, the community and the students as "we strive to win the Big Sky Conference championship and, ultimately, reach the pinnacle of FCS football."