Michigan Tech finished the 2022 season in the bottom half of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings. The Huskies were 2-4 in conference play and 4-7 overall, slowing a trend of improvement for head coach Steve Olson, who had been improving each year and led the team to a 6-4 (5-2) mark in 2021.

The Huskies’ two conference wins in 2022 came against Wayne State and Northern Michigan—the two teams in the seven-team GLIAC that finished behind Michigan Tech in the standings.

After the 2022 season, it was announced that Olson’s contract would not be renewed. Instead, associate head coach and offensive coordinator Dan Mettlach was named the new head coach.

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The GLIAC again includes seven teams and returns three programs that finished with winning records in 2022. That includes Grand Valley State, which went 12-1 overall and claimed the GLIAC title with a 6-0 record.

GLIAC football action will be streamed live on FloFootball and the FloSports app, including all of Michigan Tech’s GLIAC games.

Here’s What To Know About Michigan Tech Football.

What Year Did Michigan Tech Start Playing Football?

Michigan Tech recently celebrated 100 years of Huskies football.

The team’s first season on record was 1920 and featured a 2-0 record under head coach E.R. Lovell. This was the start of intercollegiate football for the Huskies. Then, prior to the 1924 season, football officially was recognized as a varsity sport at Michigan Tech.

Despite any success, the football team was not immune to scrutiny and budgets, and the program actually was cut briefly in 2003. Through alumni funding, it was brought back 10 days later.

Overall, Michigan Tech has compiled a 396-378-17 record. The team’s list of accomplishments includes nine conference titles and two NCAA playoff appearances.

Introducing our team captains for the 101st year of Michigan Tech Football#FollowTheHuskies #CRTD pic.twitter.com/4e5FjcALxF

— Michigan Tech Football (@MTUFB) August 28, 2023

In What Division Of College Football Does Michigan Tech Play? 

Michigan Tech plays NCAA Division II football.

The Huskies made the move from the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) when they joined the GLIAC for the first time during the 1980-1981 academic year. 

How Many Times Has Michigan Tech Football Made It To The Playoffs?

Michigan Tech has been to the Division II Playoffs twice—in 2004 and 2014.

The first came on the heels of a co-conference championship, shared with Northwood. That earned the two teams first-round byes for the playoffs. Michigan Tech lost its first game to North Dakota, 20-3.

In 2014, Michigan Tech advanced to the playoffs in Super Region 4 but again failed to pick up a postseason win, falling to Angelo State in the first round, 42-41.

When Did Michigan Tech Football Join The GLIAC?

Michigan Tech’s football team joined the GLIAC during the 1980-1981 academic year. 

The Huskies moved from what eventually became the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

The conference originally was called the Northern Teachers Athletic Conference (1932-1942). It changed to the State Teacher’s College Conference of Minnesota (1942-1962) and then to the Northern Intercollegiate Conference from 1962-1992.

At that point, there was a merger of the men’s NIC and the women’s Northern Sun Conference to make the NSIC, which also resulted in a jump from NAIA to NCAA Division II competition.

Michigan Tech was in the various iterations of the conference from 1957-1980.

After the 1989 season, the GLIAC dropped football, sending most of those teams on to the new Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference, along with members of the Heartland Football Conference for the 1990 season, but Michigan Tech remained independent until moving to the MIFC in 1994.

The MIFC merged with the GLIAC in 1999, and the conference resumed its sponsorship of football that fall.

Has Michigan Tech Football Ever Won The GLIAC title?

Michigan Tech won a share of the GLIAC title in 2004, along with Northwood. 

The Huskies also made a run at the title in 2012, finishing in a four-way tie atop the North Division standings at 7-3 with Grand Valley State, Saginaw Valley State and Hillsdale. The title ultimately went to South Division leader, undefeated Ashland (10-0 in GLIAC).

Michigan Tech earned conference titles on seven other occasions in what eventually became the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference – 1959 (shared), 1963, 1965, 1969, 1970, 1972 and 1974.

Who Is The Michigan Tech Football Head Coach?

Shortly after the conclusion of the 2022 season, it was announced that associate head coach and offensive coordinator Dan Mettlach would assume the head coaching role for Michigan Tech.

Steven Olson, who coached five full seasons and was at the helm for the canceled 2020 campaign (COVID-19), did not have his contract renewed. He was there from 2017-2022 and was 23-29.

Mettlach made his debut on the Michigan Tech coaching staff in 2017 as the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach.

Prior to returning to Michigan Tech, Mettlach was the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Finlandia University, where he helped Tim Driscoll start the football program.

Mettlach also made stops at Macalester College, Hillsdale College and Northern Michigan. He helped Hillsdale to the GLIAC championship in 2011.

As a college football player, Mettlach excelled as a quarterback for Michigan Tech (2001-2004). He was an All-American and named the 2004 GLIAC Player of the Year.

Dan Mettlach has been named the 17th Head Football Coach at Michigan Tech. #mtufb #FollowTheHuskies pic.twitter.com/ZJeJoZdOXW

— Michigan Tech Football (@MTUFB) November 29, 2022

Who Is Michigan Tech Football’s Biggest Rival? 

The Michigan Tech-Northern Michigan rivalry dates back to the very first game Michigan Tech ever played.

The teams actually squared off twice in the Huskies’ debut season of 1920 (Oct. 16 and Nov. 6). In fact, that was the only two games Michigan Tech played that year, beating Northern Michigan 20-13 and 26-0, respectively. 

The Huskies and Wildcats now have met 95 times, with Michigan Tech holding the advantage in the series, 49-41-5.

Since 2002, the teams have been playing for a traveling trophy called the Miner’s Cup. The trophy is a miner’s helmet mounted on a wood base, and it was created in a collaboration between Michigan Tech’s athletic department and the school’s Army ROTC battalion. 

Michigan Tech has won the Miner’s Cup 17 of the 20 times it has been on the line, including the last 12. Northern Michigan hasn’t won since 2009.

Michigan Tech and Ferris State have met 71 times, with the Huskies holding a 34-33-4 advantage. Other longtime opponents include Northwood (47), Saginaw Valley State (36) and Grand Valley State (35).

Where Do The Michigan Tech Huskies Play Football?

The Michigan Tech Huskies play their football games on Sherman Field at Kearly Stadium, which is known as the most scenic football and soccer venue in the GLIAC. It has been their home since 1981, originally named MTU Stadium. 

.@MTUHuskies Sherman Field at Kearly Stadium is looking nice with the brand new turf🙌

📸 | @AstroTurfUSA#GLIACViews #WhereChampionsCompete pic.twitter.com/stTwfFEKvV

— GLIAC (@GLIACsports) July 14, 2021

The venue was changed to Sherman Field in 1988 and re-dedicated as Sherman Field at Kearly Stadum in 2021 after a three-year renovation.

The field takes its name from Donald Sherman, former athletic director/coach at Michigan Tech. His career at the school began in 1929.

The largest crowd to attend a Michigan Tech home game was 4,684, which came against Grand Valley State in 2012. GVSU won that game 51-43.

Where Is Michigan Tech University?

Michigan Technological University is in Houghton, Michigan, and opened in 1885 as the Michigan Mining School (hence the Miner’s Cup trophy for the game against Northern Michigan).

The original reason for the school was to train mining engineers to run the local copper mines.

In 1897, the name of the school was changed to the Michigan College of Mines, and that later was changed to the Michigan College of Mining and Technology in 1927.

Post-World War II growth to the campus, student body and programs helped the institution transition from a college to university, which required on final name change to Michigan Technological University in 1964.

Notable Michigan Tech Alums

Biochemist Melvin Calvin, computer scientist Donald Shell, biomedical engineer David Edwards, aerospace pioneer Jack Real, mining geologist and engineer George Garrey, and a plethora of professional hockey players from around the globe.

A handful of former Michigan Tech football players have been drafted in the NFL Draft. Among them are James Van Wagner (1977), Dave Walter (1987) and Joe Berger (2005).

Michigan Tech Football Schedule 2023

• Sept. 9: Hillsdale, 1 p.m. ET
• Sept. 16: at Wisconsin-Platteville, 2 p.m. ET
• Sept. 23: at Upper Iowa, 2 p.m. ET
• Sept. 30: Davenport, 1 p.m. ET
• Oct. 7: at Wayne State, 1 p.m. ET
• Oct. 14: at Northern Michigan, 7 p.m. ET
• Oct. 21: Ferris State, 1 p.m. ET
• Oct. 28: at Grand Valley State, 3 p.m. ET
• Nov. 4: Minot State, 1 p.m. ET
• Nov. 11: Saginaw Valley State, 1 p.m. ET