Dylan Chmura

MARQUETTE — Northern Michigan University Athletic Director Rick Comley has named current offensive coordinator Dylan Chmura as interim head football coach following Kyle Nystrom’s resignation Monday.

Chmura will serve in the role until a new Wildcat head football coach is hired, which Comley says he anticipates will be in the early part of 2023.

Chmura joined NMU’s coaching staff in 2021, working with the offensive line, tight ends and fullbacks. Last summer, he was promoted to offensive coordinator.

Playing tight end and long snapper at Michigan State (2013-16), Chmura earned two letters. He is the son of seven-year Green Bay Packers tight end Mark Chmura and holds a master’s degree in education from Fresno State.

Nystrom’s squad completed the 2022 season on Saturday with a 33-11 victory at Lake Erie College to put the team’s record at 4-7 overall and 1-5 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Nystrom posted a 13-40 (5-33 GLIAC) won-loss mark for his five NMU campaigns.

During the 2022 season, Iron Mountain redshirt sophomore tight end Charlie Gerhard played in 10 games, getting 25 catches for 281 yards.

Caden Pellizzer, a junior from Iron River, played in seven games as long snapper and had a solo tackle.

“Coaching changes are tough on players, but we’re committed to helping make sure that our team members stay on track to achieve their athletic and academic goals,” said Chmura.

Under Nystrom, 30 players earned All-GLIAC recognition a total of 38 times through 2021, with Jake Mayon named the GLIAC Offensive Back of the Year in 2017 and 2018. Conference awards for 2022 have yet to be announced.

Nystrom grew up around the Wildcats program, since he was in the fifth grade when his late father, Carl “Buck” Nystrom, began his first stint as an NMU assistant football coach in 1975.

MTU FINISHES 4-7

Michigan Tech wrapped up its season Saturday, falling to Saginaw Valley State 35-30 at University Center. The Huskies finished fifth in the GLIAC standings with a 2-4 record, 4-7 overall.

“The other teams we lost to this season were a combined 42-7 coming into this weekend so obviously I’m very proud of our guys for how they competed against one of the toughest schedules in Division II,” said head coach Steve Olson. “We have to keep working hard to figure out ways to get better but I’m proud of our 22 seniors and what they accomplished in their time at Michigan Tech.”

The seniors included tight end Luke Terrian of Kingsford, who played in 11 games during the 2022 season. He had 14 catches for 89 yards and a touchdown.

MTU won its 12th straight Miner’s Cup with a 21-7 victory over NMU on Oct. 15 at Houghton. NMU’s Gerhard had three catches in the game for 56 yards.