Latest news, weather, high school sports for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

MARQUETTE -- Northern Michigan University football will see a change as the contract for Coach Bernie Anderson has not been renewed.

"We do a review of our teams after each season," said Interim Athletic Director Steve Reed.  "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."

The NMU Wildcats finished this season with a 4-7 record, losing seven of their last eight games.  Anderson had a 24-38 record in his six seasons with NMU.  He has an overall collegiate coaching record of 117-134.

Coach Anderson's contract was set to expire on June 30, but Reed says the change is being made now to make sure incoming athletes are aware of it.

"It is always difficult to make coaching leadership changes," Reed added.  "But the university's mission with all of its intercollegiate athletic programs is that they be successful both on and off the playing field."

Reed says that they don't expect a conference title every year, but there needs to be more consistency in the level at which NMU competes, especially when the athletic and academic talent is present.