Michigan Man
If Michigan is serious about winning long-term instead of just winning the press conference, Tony Annese should be at the top of the list. Everywhere he’s been, from high school to Ferris State, he’s been nothing but an absolute winner. His Ferris run alone is absurd: multiple national titles, a program identity that travels, and a level of week-to-week dominance most Power 5 schools would kill for. You don’t accidentally stack that kind of résumé; it’s the product of system, culture, and detail obsession that would translate just fine to Ann Arbor.
The age “concern” at 64 is actually a feature, not a bug. In a world where coaching stops are basically three- to five-year pop-ups, Michigan could lock in a decade of stability. Ten years from a coach who knows exactly who he is and what he wants to run is worth far more than three glorious seasons from a “hot name” who bolts the moment the NFL or a mega-job calls. If Kalen DeBoer or another marquee name lights it up, you’re immediately on flight-tracker watch. With Annese, Michigan could build a true 10-year plan.
He also checks the boxes Michigan people pretend to care about but rarely prioritize: local roots, program builder, and someone who actually understands the state. Annese owns the Michigan high school footprint and has long-standing relationships with coaches across the region. On top of that, Ferris State’s roster shows how well he recruits nationally—especially in Florida, where he consistently finds speed and playmakers that the “big boys” overlook. Give that man a Block M logo, NIL backing, and the Michigan brand, and you’ll see that pipeline explode.
Yes, he still has another Division II national championship to chase in Big Rapids, but that’s part of the appeal. You’re hiring a coach who is in the middle of winning now, not living off a decade-old peak. Tony Annese wouldn’t just stabilize Michigan; he’d turn the Wolverines into a ruthlessly efficient machine built to win for the next decade, not just the next news cycle.
