May 30, 2011 - 9:33am
Pearson named head coach at Michigan Tech
BY MICHAEL FLOREK
After 23 years coaching behind Red Berenson, Michigan associate head coach Mel Pearson is stepping out of the shadows. On Friday, Pearson was named the new head coach at Michigan Tech.
Pearson is returning to his alma mater. He played for the Huskies from 1977-81, pushing the Huskies to a third-place finish in the NCAA Championship in 1981.
There were rumors over the past month that he was on-campus for an interview and in serious talks for the job. Those rumors ended with his name being taken out of consideration.
Friday, Michigan Tech sent out a press release making announcing Pearson as the head coach.
"I'm very excited and grateful for this opportunity," Pearson said in the press release. "Michigan Tech was the school that gave me my first chance not only as a player but as a coach, and I'm looking forward to working with the University, alumni and community in bringing back the winning tradition."
Pearson, whose duties with the Wolverines were primarily to work with the offense, came to Michigan just four years after Berenson took the head coaching job. He was the longest tenured assistant, ahead of defensive assistant coach Billy Powers by four years.
"It is a good opportunity for Mel to get a head coaching job at his alma mater," Berenson said in Michigan's press release. "He's been a great asset to the Michigan hockey program in his 23 years of service. We're going to miss him, but part of this whole process is to help people move up and develop into head coaches. It's an opportunity that he decided was right for him.
While Berenson searches for a new assistant coach, Pearson undertakes the biggest rebuilding job in college hockey. The Huskies went 4-30-4 last season and at one point had a 26-game losing streak.
