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BIG RAPIDS ― The 2026 Michigan Hall of Fame inductees were announced on Wednesday, July 29 and four-time NCAA Division II football champion head coach Tony Annese found out he will be one of seven new members to the HoF come December. Annese, the Ferris State head coach since 2012, is credited with turning the Bulldogs' program into a D2 dynasty, winning four of the last five national championships.
HoF Class 7 legends named to Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Ferris transfer Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss quarterback, Heisman candidate for Pete Golding in 2026
A native of Corunna and an Alma College alum, Annese has had a significant impact at both the high school and college levels. He coached at six Michigan high schools including Montrose, Ann Arbor Pioneer, Jenison and Muskegon, compiling a record of 195-41 over 22 seasons. His teams made 15 playoff appearances and five trips to the state semifinals, winning three state championships at Muskegon (2004, 2006 and 2008).
Annese's collegiate coaching career began at Grand Rapids Community College, where his teams lost only three games in three seasons and included a perfect season in 2011. He coached 14 All-Americans at GRCC before moving to Ferris State.
Since his hiring at Ferris State, Annese has led the Bulldogs to seven conference championships, 11 playoff appearances and four NCAA Division II national championships (2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025). He has compiled a record of 153-21, making Ferris State a national power at the Division II level.
In 2024, Annese was honored as the first recipient of the Walter Camp Division II Coach of the Year award by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Annese is the only coach in the seven-member 2026 Hall of Fame class, which also includes Swin Cash, Kevin Glover, Mark Ingram II, Peter Vanderkaay, Paul Woods and Bill Lajoie. Late Tigers pitcher Mark “The Bird” Fidrych will receive the Michigan Treasure Award, and Doug Drenth will be honored with the Courage Award.
The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to preserving the state's sports history and celebrating its legendary athletes, coaches and contributors. The Hall of Fame includes more than 400 inductees, including Gordie Howe, Barry Sanders, Al Kaline, Steve Yzerman, Desmond Howard, Jim Harbaugh, Chris Webber, Mickey Redmond, Tom Izzo, Derek Jeter, Jerome Bettis, Lance Parrish, Magic Johnson and Joe Dumars.
This story was created by reporter Dylan Jespersen, [email protected], with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Ferris State's Tony Annese selected to Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
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HoF Class 7 legends named to Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Ferris transfer Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss quarterback, Heisman candidate for Pete Golding in 2026
A native of Corunna and an Alma College alum, Annese has had a significant impact at both the high school and college levels. He coached at six Michigan high schools including Montrose, Ann Arbor Pioneer, Jenison and Muskegon, compiling a record of 195-41 over 22 seasons. His teams made 15 playoff appearances and five trips to the state semifinals, winning three state championships at Muskegon (2004, 2006 and 2008).
Annese's collegiate coaching career began at Grand Rapids Community College, where his teams lost only three games in three seasons and included a perfect season in 2011. He coached 14 All-Americans at GRCC before moving to Ferris State.
Since his hiring at Ferris State, Annese has led the Bulldogs to seven conference championships, 11 playoff appearances and four NCAA Division II national championships (2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025). He has compiled a record of 153-21, making Ferris State a national power at the Division II level.
In 2024, Annese was honored as the first recipient of the Walter Camp Division II Coach of the Year award by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Annese is the only coach in the seven-member 2026 Hall of Fame class, which also includes Swin Cash, Kevin Glover, Mark Ingram II, Peter Vanderkaay, Paul Woods and Bill Lajoie. Late Tigers pitcher Mark “The Bird” Fidrych will receive the Michigan Treasure Award, and Doug Drenth will be honored with the Courage Award.
The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to preserving the state's sports history and celebrating its legendary athletes, coaches and contributors. The Hall of Fame includes more than 400 inductees, including Gordie Howe, Barry Sanders, Al Kaline, Steve Yzerman, Desmond Howard, Jim Harbaugh, Chris Webber, Mickey Redmond, Tom Izzo, Derek Jeter, Jerome Bettis, Lance Parrish, Magic Johnson and Joe Dumars.
This story was created by reporter Dylan Jespersen, [email protected], with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Ferris State's Tony Annese selected to Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
Continue reading...
