OUGHTON — Former Michigan Tech football coach Tom Kearly received the university’s 2019 Honorary Alumni Award, presented during the school’s annual alumni weekend.

This award honors individuals who have provided service and support of the university characteristic of dedicated alumni. The MTU Board of Directors bestows this honor on the strongest non-alumni supporters of MTU.

Tech’s head coach from 2006-16, Kearly had a record of 70-44 and winning percentage of .614, the second-highest in program history.

Kearly began at Tech in 2000 as associate head coach and offensive coordinator. He moved the program into the upper echelons of the GLIAC, helping the Huskies win their second-ever conference football title in 2012. Two years later, Tech earned the program’s second-ever berth into the NCAA Division II playoffs with a 9-2 record.

He was named GLIAC Coach of the Year in 2010 after taking a 2-8 team and turning it into a playoff contender at 8-2.

In addition to helping the program succeed on the field, the Hancock native was instrumental in facilities improvements for the program, with a synthetic turf installed in 2008, stadium seating constructed in 2018 and other improvements set to be ready for this fall. The new facility will be named Sherman Field at Kearly Stadium in honor of Tom and his father, Ted, who served as Tech’s athletic director and football coach.

Tom Kearly spent 19 seasons at NCAA Division I Central Michigan University, including nine as offensive coordinator, prior to coming to Tech.