Mel Pearson & Michigan Tech Hockey #1

Submitted by InHopsWeTrust on

Per USCHO Mel Pearson's Michigan Tech is #1 in the nation.  I know this isn't new news but worthy of discussion, maybe. 

We all think Red is gone.  Now that Mel is back at Tech, is there any chance on bringing him back?

1blockradius

November 19th, 2014 at 6:37 AM ^

I went to Michigan Tech and my last engineering class to graduate was taken at UofM. You don't have to be bright to know they are two very different places.



I could compare engineering classes and campus life between the two, but ill leave that alone because it doesnt pertain to this thread as much.



What I will say is many adults would pick Houghton over Ann Arbor. That's an important perspective because I sense there are a lot of MGoBloggers who don't believe it. Skiing, hunting, the pace of life, cost of living, etc. It's one of those things you have to be up there to believe - Houghton is beautiful, even for people that think they'd hate it.

Bando Calrissian

November 18th, 2014 at 1:15 PM ^

Everybody and their uncle has an "I heard Mel isn't really the guy" story and will swear up and down that there's a reason for it they can't explain, but I just find it impossibly hard to believe. Mel was synonymous with this program's success, and in his absence, well, we know what's happened. Sure, Red's not getting any younger or more engaged, but I think we've discovered Mel was a far more important part of the equation than anyone was led to believe.

He has to be Hockey Harbaugh at this point. We'll see.

lhglrkwg

November 18th, 2014 at 1:32 PM ^

On the bright side, I know the hockey team is being massively disappointing again but three of our losses are to now #1 Tech and #3 BU. We also have a win over #5 Lowell

The 5-1 home loss to UNH remains awful, but there may still be some hope that this team can pull it together in the pretty awful Big Ten

But seriously, Mel come back. I take back everything I ever said about you

Jack Harbaugh

November 18th, 2014 at 4:04 PM ^

Mel is "home." Considering he went to Tech and was an assistant there before he was an assistant at Michigan. He just signed a pretty big extension last year also. At Tech, a winning hockey program is comparable to being a winning coach for UM football. He's there to stay now. 

South Bend Wolverine

November 18th, 2014 at 1:38 PM ^

Put this on the list of "thanks, Brandon" bullets.  Mel was the heir apparent, and had turned down multiple offers from other schools in order to maintain that status.  Then in comes the Pizza Man with his brilliant idea that Mel needed head coaching experience to even be considered for the job.  So he torpedoed our hockey success for the last few years & jeopardized our ability to get Mel back by sending him off to his alma mater.  Great.

Bando Calrissian

November 18th, 2014 at 1:46 PM ^

Absolutely correct.

On the better end of the spectrum, though, we've now escaped the nightmare that was DB getting up to a podium and saying "I will be conducting a national search" when Red finally hangs 'em up. 

At this point, honestly, anything less than the Bo-Canham-Bump presser treatment for Red's successor will be a disappointment.

kdhoffma

November 18th, 2014 at 1:50 PM ^

Something to consider: Mel signed a 5 year extension (through 2020/21) a couple months ago. May not mean much, but with Red already stating he doesn't plan to coach past the 15/16 season, it could indicate Mel has no intentions of taking the Michigan job.

joeyb

November 18th, 2014 at 4:03 PM ^

I'm not sure why that matters. Coaches sign extensions all the time. If Michigan (or any other program) doesn't come knocking on his door, he needs to ensure his future. $250k is basically nothing if Michigan thinks that this is the guy that puts Michigan in the top 5 year after year.

Sac Fly

November 18th, 2014 at 2:06 PM ^

I don't think Pearson will be our coach. Neither will Rick Bennett, Danton Cole or Mike Babcock.

Don Granato, Cary Eades or Greg Brown are more realistic candidates.