DAN METTLACH

HOUGHTON — Michigan Tech Athletic Director Suzanne Sanregret announced Tuesday that head football coach Steve Olson’s contract has not been renewed. Associate head coach and offensive coordinator Dan Mettlach has been named the new head coach of the Huskies, effective immediately.

Olson recently completed his sixth season as the leader of the Huskies and held a 23-29 overall record and a 15-23 mark in GLIAC games. The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Steve is a person of great integrity, and he has worked tirelessly to fulfill the mission of our athletic department and university,” said Sanregret. “He stepped in with big shoes to fill after Coach (Tom) Kearly retired, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

Dan Mettlach joined Michigan Tech’s staff in January 2017 as the offensive coordinator and the assistant head coach and later the associate head coach. The native of Gwinn was one of the top quarterbacks in Michigan Tech history from 2001-04 and was named an All-American, the 2004 GLIAC Player of the Year, and a two-time All-GLIAC selection.

“Our goal is to be successful in all aspects of the program both on and off the field,” said Sanregret. “A quality football program is a valued part of Michigan Tech’s history, and we’re excited about the vision that Dan has to get us back to the top of the best NCAA Division II conference in the nation. Dan has the backing of our football alumni base and his pro-style offense has been effective at every one of his coaching stops.”

“It is an honor to be named the next head football coach at Michigan Technological University,” Mettlach said. “As a former student-athlete here myself, I am familiar with the tradition of excellence and integrity we strive for as a university and within our athletic programs, and I am excited to be able to contribute to that.”

Mettlach was the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Finlandia University for its first three seasons of NCAA Division III football. He also had stops at Macalester College (NCAA DIII), Hillsdale College (NCAA DII), and Northern Michigan University (NCAA DII) before returning to his alma mater.