2002 Joliet Wolves football team

{{short description|American college football season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 2002

| team = Joliet Wolves

| sport = football

| image =

| image_size =

| conference = North Central Community College Conference

| short_conf = N4C

| record = 11–0

| conf_record = 8–0

| head_coach = Bob MacDougall

| hc_year = 3rd

| captain =

| stadium =

| champion = NJCAA National Football Championship

| bowl = Golden Isles Bowl

| bowl_result = W 24-14 vs. Georgia Military College

}}

The 2002 Joliet Wolves football team was an American football team that represented Joliet Junior College as a member of the North Central Community College Conference (N4C) during the 2002 junior college football season. In their third year under head coach Bob MacDougall, the Wolves compiled an 11–0 record (8–0 in conference games), won the N4C championship, and defeated Georgia Military College in the Golden Isles Bowl for the NJCAA National Football Championship. The team extended its winning streak to 21 games, which at the time was the longest in the nation.{{cite news|title=Joliet Junior College takes Bowl Classic crown|newspaper=The Star|date=December 12, 2002|page=C5|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/southtown-star-joliet-junior-college-tak/145330354/|via=Newspapers.com}}

The team's statistical leaders included DuJuan Johnson with 798 rushing yards, Jim Peyton with 2,251 passing yards and 25 passing touchdowns, and ·Kelvin Hayden with 1,297 receiving yards.{{cite web|title=Joliet Junior College 2002-03 Leaders|publisher=National Junior College Athletic Association|accessdate=April 13, 2024|url=https://www.njcaa.org/sports/fball/2002-03/teams/JolietJuniorCollege/leaders.html}} Linebacker Rob Ninkovich later played 11 seasons in the National Football League.{{cite news|title=Rob Ninkovich|newspaper=Southland Star|date=November 23, 2009|page=40|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/southtown-star-ninkovich/145332440/|via=Newspapers.com}} Defensive end John Chrestman set a school record with 15 sacks for Joliet during the 2002 season.{{cite news|title=Redbirds|newspaper=The Pantagraph|date=February 6, 2003|page=15|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-chrestman/145332779/|via=Newspapers.com}}