Courtesy of Ferris State Athletic Communications
BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — Four-time NCAA Division II Football National Champion head coach Tony Annese has been chosen to be inducted into the 2026 Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Class, becoming a member of most of the states’s all-time legends who’ve beforehand been enshrined.
The announcement was made on Wednesday and Annese will be honored in the course of the 2026 induction occasion on December 17 on the Sound Board Theater at MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit.
The class was voted on by the Hall of Fame’s Election Task Force, a Statewide Election Committee and the general public. Annese was voted for induction in his first 12 months on the Hall of Fame poll.
The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the State of Michigan’s sports activities historical past and celebrating the State’s legendary athletes, coaches and contributors. The Election Task Force, comprised of present and former journalists, sports activities executives, and different numerous and educated members of the neighborhood, was chaired by Risa Balayem of PR1, Inc., a longtime sports activities and leisure communications skilled. The Class was ratified, unanimously, by the Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors, which additionally chosen the winners of this 12 months’s awards.
“This class is filled with champions from varied levels and eras. Their induction helps make sure that fans of Michigan won’t forget what they accomplished. Congratulations to the Class of 2026,” stated Scott Lesher, Hall of Fame chairman.
A local of Corunna, an Alma College alum and soccer coach at six Michigan excessive colleges, Annese is greatest identified for his successful applications on the faculty stage. In three seasons at Grand Rapids Community College, his groups solely misplaced three video games, together with an ideal season in 2011. He coached 14 All-Americans at GRCC, earlier than transferring on to Ferris State. In Big Rapids, his Bulldogs have received 4 Division II National Championships within the final 5 years heading into the 2026 season and he ranks as one of many nation’s winningest energetic head coaches no matter stage. Ferris State is at the moment the nation’s preseason top-ranked D2 workforce coming into 2026.
Hired as the pinnacle coach at FSU prior to the 2012 season, Annese has led the Bulldogs to seven convention championships, 11 playoff appearances and 4 NCAA Division II National Championships (2021, 2022, 2024, 2025) whereas compiling a document of 153-21 at FSU. In 2024, he was honored because the first-ever recipient of the Walter Camp Division II Coach of the Year by the Walter Camp Football Foundation. Prior to his collegiate profession, Annese established himself as one of many state’s premier prep coaches and a soccer mastermind in 4 stops on the prep stage. He posted a mark of 195-41 in 22 seasons as a prep head coach at Montrose, Ann Arbor Pioneer, Jenison and Muskegon High Schools whereas making 15 playoff appearances and 5 journeys to the state semifinals, together with three state championships.
Heading into his 14th season at Ferris State, the Bulldogs have turn into a nationwide energy on the Division II stage underneath Annese. FSU has posted the most effective successful proportion of all 21 collegiate applications within the state of Michigan together with the GLIAC since his arrival. Overall, Annese has received 86% of his video games as a head coach on the collegiate and prep ranges and owns 378 wins to date, which is essentially the most of any present GLIAC member head coach in any respect ranges.
Annese was the lone coach chosen for induction on this 12 months’s seven-member class, which additionally contains Swin Cash (skilled), Kevin Glover (skilled), Mark Ingram II (newbie), Peter Vanderkaay (newbie), Paul Woods (media) and Bill Lajoie (contributor) as well as to Annese. As a part of the category announcement, Mark “The Bird” Fidrych was additionally chosen to obtain the Michigan Treasure Award and Doug Drenth was honored because the Courage Award recipient.
“We appreciate the increased number of Michigan sports fans who helped select this class,” added Jordan Field, Hall of Fame president. “Public voters supported these they bear in mind essentially the most, serving to to make certain every of our inductees is among the many most
worthy.”
The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame contains most of the state’s all-time greats, together with previous skilled standouts and large names reminiscent of 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, Joe Dumars and extra. More than 400 legends have been inducted because the corridor of fame’s founding in 1954.
The Hall of Fame was organized in 1954 by Lt. Governor Philip A. Hart, Michigan State University Athletic Director Biggie Munn, Donald Weeks, President of the Greater Michigan Foundation, W. Nicholas Kerbawy, General Manager of the Detroit Lions and George Alderton of the Lansing State Journal who conceived of the challenge. It is believed to be the oldest State Sports Hall of Fame within the United States, having elected its inaugural Class in 1955.
The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame is dedicated to impacting communities and galvanizing individuals by celebrating & honoring the traditions, legacies and historical past of sports activities all through the state of Michigan.
As a part of its dedication to steady enchancment, notably when it comes to inclusion, the Hall’s Board undertook a cautious evaluate of all nomination and election processes, to guarantee as many worthy candidates have an opportunity at induction as doable sooner or later. This is the primary 12 months the Board ratified a category underneath these new tips.