BREAKING NEWS: Bernie Anderson out as football coach at Northern Michigan

Courtesy of Northern Michigan Athletics

MARQUETTE- The Northern Michigan University football team will undergo a coaching change effective immediately, according to Steve Reed, interim athletic director, who announced today that the contract for Coach Bernie Anderson has not been renewed.

“We do a review of our teams after each season. Based on the football
squad’s overall performance for the last six years, with this past season
being the tipping point, it has been decided that leadership changes are
necessary at this time,” said Reed.

This past year the Wildcats went 4-7 overall and 3-7 in the Great Lakes
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference for sixth place in the North Division.
The ‘Cats opened the year with three victories, but then lost seven of the final eight games.

Anderson compiled a 24-38 record in his six seasons at Northern and has an overall collegiate coaching mark of 117-134 over 25 years.

Anderson’s contract was originally set to expire on June 30, but Reed said the change is being made now so potential student-athletes in the recruiting process know of the change.

“It is always difficult to make coaching leadership changes,” said Reed.
“But the university’s mission with all of its intercollegiate athletic
programs is that they be successful both on and off the playing field. We do not expect a conference title every year, but we need to be in the conference race on a much more consistent basis, especially if the academic and athletic talent is present.”

Reed said an announcement about who will serve as head coach will be made later in the week.