FOOTBALL: Pierce Not Retained As Ferris Head Coach

Ferris State University Athletics Director Perk Weisenburger announced today that Jeff Pierce will not be retained as head football coach, ending a 17-year run leading the Bulldog football program.

"After evaluating our program over the past two seasons, it became apparent that it is time for a change," Weisenburger said. "In order to promote the future success of our football program, new leadership is needed. Therefore, as of Dec. 1, Jeff Pierce will no longer serve as head football coach at Ferris State University and a search for his successor will begin immediately.

"Regretfully, and with the utmost respect for the time and effort Jeff has devoted to our program, this action is needed at this point in time. Our efforts remain focused on building the Bulldogs into a championship contending football program. We appreciate the service, commitment and dedication that Jeff, his family and his coaching staffs have provided to Ferris over the years," he added.

Pierce established firm roots with the Bulldogs after graduating from Sault Ste. Marie (Mich.) High School in 1974. He was a Bulldog defensive back from 1974-77 and started his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at Ferris in 1983 under Nick Coso. He later coached the linebackers under Dan Underwood and continued on with Keith Otterbein's staff in 1986 before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 1988.

Pierce took over the Bulldog program in 1995 after the departure of Otterbein. The Bulldogs haven't reached the playoffs since 1996 and claimed the last of three league titles won or shared under Pierce's direction in 1999. FSU's six wins this season represented their most victories since 2008 and came on the heels of back-to-back losing seasons in 2009 and 2010. Ferris won only one game in 2009 (1-10) and followed it up with a 5-6 mark in 2010 (lost final five games) along with a 6-5 record in 2011 (lost four of last six games).

Additionally, Ferris also has struggled against various Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) division rivals. The Bulldogs haven't beat archrival Grand Valley State since 1999 and this year's setback at Michigan Tech was Ferris' ninth consecutive loss to the Huskies. Ferris has finished among the top three teams in the conference only once in the last 10 years and is 23-41 versus in-state league teams on the field in the last 10 seasons, including a combined 3-16 versus two of the division's premier programs in GVSU and Saginaw Valley State* (includes two games that were later changed to forfeit wins for the Bulldogs).

Pierce served for 12 years as a Bulldog assistant coach, including the final seven as defensive coordinator, before being tabbed as the school's 12th head coach and he guided the Bulldogs to NCAA Division II Playoff appearances in each of his first two campaigns while finishing with a 102-85 (.545) overall record. He made the most of his initial head coaching opportunity during his first season in 1995 when he led the Bulldogs at that time to an unprecedented fourth consecutive GLIAC title with a second-straight undefeated regular-season and a school-best semifinal appearance in the NCAA-II Playoffs while earning GLIAC Coach of the Year honors.

A national search for a successor will begin immediately, according to Weisenburger. Assistant Coach Chris Boden will serve as the interim head coach until a successor is named.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Ferris Off To Good Start ... Tougher Competition Is Ahead

Ferris State University's women's basketball team is off to a good start to the 2011-12 season with some non-league victories.

But, the competition gets a lot stiffer for head coach Tracey Dorow's team - beginning Thursday evening on the road in Ohio at Tiffin University.

Sophomore guard Sarah DeShone (pictured), who missed some games late last season, is making up for lost time as she is off to a hot start this season. DeShone is leading the team in scoring at 15.7. Her potential is virtually unlimited and she is paying some major dividends on a team that is mostly balanced in its scoring attack.

Tricia Principe and Nikki Arner are both averaging 9.7 points for the Bulldogs. Veteran guard/forward Lindsey Pettit and freshman center Christina Branch are off to good starts as well.

MEN'S BASKETBALL: Ferris Earns Important Regional Win

Don't believe that some of these early-season non-conference games are not all that important ... they are very important.

Ferris State University, this past Saturday, earned a key 70-65 decision over Wisconsin-Parkside in a game played in Big Rapids at Jim Wink Arena.

The Bulldogs of head coach Bill Sall need to earn their regional victories when they can get them. Obviously, the league games will be important when GLIAC play begins on Thursday, but these games against schools from the GLVC can pay off for Ferris if it performs well in league play.

There is, of course, a lot of work ahead for the Bulldogs and many other teams with the season still in its infancy. But, a good regional win is still a good regional win. Ferris, led by the likes of guard Kenny Brown (pictured) will definitely take it.

MEN'S BASKETBALL: Former Bulldog Clarke Carrying On Tradition As Coach Of Owens

Former Ferris State University men's basketball player and student assistant coach David Clarke was hired this summer as the head men's basketball coach at junior-college power Owens Community College of Ohio.

“I really believe that Owens Community College men’s basketball is one of the best intercollegiate programs in the country,” Clarke said. “I am really looking forward to representing Owens Community College and serving as Head Coach of the Express men’s basketball program.”

Clarke is off to a good start and coached his team to a big victory over Grand Rapids Community College in a return to Michigan on Nov. 18.

If the win over GRCC is any indication, an 81-57 win that lifted the nationally-ranked team to 6-0 on the season.

HOCKEY: Ferris Still Standing Strong In National Polls

Ferris State University's hockey team continues to ride high in the national rankings at sixth in the three major Division I polls: the U.S. College Hockey Online, Inside College Hockey.com and the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine.

The Bulldogs of 20th-year head coach Bob Daniels are off to a solid start at 9-2-1 overall and 5-2-1 in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.

This weekend the Bulldogs are headed out west - WAY OUT WEST - to Fairbanks, Alaska to take on the University of Alaska Nanooks. The games are scheduled for Friday and Saturday with start times slated for 11:05 p.m. both nights.

Update: I've Been On Injured Reserve

My apologies about not keeping the blog as up to date as possible, but I have been recovering from knee surgery following a very unexpected (that is putting it mildly) and painful injury.

I plan to get started back blogging immediately.

FOOTBALL: Michigan Tech 41, Ferris 14

HOUGHTON - It was a rough afternoon of football all the way around for Ferris State University as it dropped a 41-14 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference decision to Michigan Tech University at Sherman Field.

The Bulldogs drop to 5-5 overall and 4-5 in the GLIAC while the Huskies improve to 6-4 overall and 5-4 in the league.

Ferris had a difficult time stopping MTU from running the football as the huskies rushed for 236 yards led by Akeem Cason, who had 117 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. As a team, MTU dominated time of possession as it held the ball for 40:21 vs. the Bulldogs who had it for 19:39.

For the Bulldogs, Mike Ryan had a big day as he made five catches for 136 yards while Tom Schneider completed 17-of-31 passes for 233 yards. Dwayne Williams (pictured) had seven carries for 14 yards and two touchdowns.

The Huskies gained a total of 447 yards vs. 274 for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs take on Northwood University at 2 p.m. next week on Senior Day in Big Rapids.

FOOTBALL: Bulldogs Now Playing For Winning Record

HOUGHTON - Next week, Ferris State University now is playing for lots of things: Pride, respect, tradition, a winning record, the crimson and gold, the alumni, family, teammates, coaches and more.

That's a lot to play for even if you're not playing for a championship or the NCAA playoffs.

Now we'll see how the Bulldogs respond as they step out on the turf at Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids against Northwood University.