Tony Annese

Tony Annese (born c. 1961) is an American college football coach. He is the head football coach for Ferris State University, a position he has held since 2012. Annese started his coaching career at the high school level. He served as the head coach at four different high schools from 1987 to 2008 in Michigan, winning three Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Division 2 State Championships with the Muskegon High School Big Reds. Annese the served as the head football coach at Grand Rapids Community College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, from 2009 to 2011, leading his teams to two National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II championships, in 2009 and 2011.^[1] Annese led the Ferris State Bulldogs to consecutive NCAA Division II Football Championship titles in 2021 and 2022, and another one in 2024.

Tony Annese

Annese (left) with the 2022 NCAA Division II Football Championship trophy
Current position
Title	Head coach
Team	Ferris State
Conference	GLIAC
Record	138–21
Biographical details
Born	c. 1961 (age 63–64)
Playing career
1981–1983	Alma
Position	Wide receiver
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1984	Muskegon Catholic Central HS (MI) (assistant)
1985–1986	West Ottawa HS (MI) (assistant)
1987–1994	Montrose HS (MI)
1995–1996	Pioneer HS (MI)
1997–1999	Jenison HS (MI)
2000–2008	Muskegon HS (MI)
2009–2011	Grand Rapids
2012–present	Ferris State
Head coaching record
Overall	195–41 (high school) 30–4 (junior college) 138–21 (college)
Tournaments	24–7 (NCAA D-II playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
3 MHSAA (2004, 2006, 2008) 2 NJCAA (2009, 2011) 3 NCAA Division II (2021–2022, 2024) 7 GLIAC (2014–2015, 2018–2019, 2021–2022, 2024)

Head coaching record

High school

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Montrose Rams (Genesee Eight Athletic Conference) (1987–1994)
1987	Montrose	4–5	4–3	T–3rd
1988	Montrose	7–2	7–0	1st
1989	Montrose	9–0	7–0	1st
1990	Montrose	10–1	7–0	1st	L MHSAA Class B Regional
1991	Montrose	9–0	8–0	1st
1992	Montrose	11–1	8–0	1st	L MHSAA Class B Semifinal
1993	Montrose	10–1	8–0	1st	L MHSAA Class CC Regional
1994	Montrose	11–1	8–0	1st	L MHSAA Class CC Semifinal
Montrose:		71–11[2]	57–3[3]
Ann Arbor Pioneer Pioneers (South Central Conference) (1995–1996)
1995	Pioneer	5–4	1–2	T–2nd
1996	Pioneer	5–4	2–1	T–1st
Pioneer:		10–8[2]	3–3[4]
Jenison Wildcats (Ottawa-Kent Conference) (1997–1999)
1997	Jenison	7–2	5–2	T–2nd (Red)
1998	Jenison	7–3	6–1	2nd (Red)	L MHSAA Class AA Pre-regional
1999	Jenison	8–2	6–1	T–1st (Red)	L MHSAA Division 2 Pre-district
Jenison:		22–7	17–4[5]
Muskegon Big Reds (Independent) (2000–2002)
2000	Muskegon	8–2			L MHSAA Division 1 Pre-district
2001	Muskegon	7–4			L MHSAA Division 1 District
2002	Muskegon	10–2			L MHSAA Division 1 Regional
Muskegon Big Reds (Ottawa-Kent Conference) (2003–2008)
2003	Muskegon	9–2	6–0	1st (Red-Lakeshore)	L MHSAA Division 2 District
2004	Muskegon	14–0	6–0	1st (Red-Lakeshore)	W MSHAA Division 2 State Championship
2005	Muskegon	7–3	5–1	2nd (Green)	L MHSAA Division 2 Pre-district
2006	Muskegon	14–0	6–0	1st (Green)	W MSHAA Division 2 State Championship
2007	Muskegon	9–2	6–1	T–1st (Red)	L MHSAA Division 2 District
2008	Muskegon	14–0	7–0	1st (Red)	W MSHAA Division 2 State Championship
Muskegon:		92–15[6][7]	36–2[8]
Total:		195–41[7]
National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

Junior college

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Grand Rapids Raiders (Midwest Football Conference) (2009–2011)
2009	Grand Rapids	9–2	7–1	1st (East)	W NJCAA National Football Championship
2010	Grand Rapids	10–2	6–1	1st (East)
2011	Grand Rapids	11–0	7–0	1st (East)	W NJCAA National Football Championship
Grand Rapids:		30–4	20–2
Total:		30–4
National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

College

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs	AFCA#	D2°
Ferris State Bulldogs (Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (2012–present)
2012	Ferris State	7–4	6–4	5th (North)
2013	Ferris State	8–3	8–2	2nd (North)
2014	Ferris State	11–1	10–0	1st	L NCAA Division II Second Round	11
2015	Ferris State	11–1	10–0	1st	L NCAA Division II Second Round	6
2016	Ferris State	12–3	9–2	2nd	L NCAA Division II Semifinal	5
2017	Ferris State	11–2	8–1	2nd	L NCAA Division II Quarterfinal	5
2018	Ferris State	15–1	8–0	1st	L NCAA Division II Championship	2
2019	Ferris State	12–1	8–0	1st	L NCAA Division II Semifinal	3
2020–21	No team—COVID-19
2021	Ferris State	14–0	7–0	1st	W NCAA Division II Championship	1	1
2022	Ferris State	14–1	5–1	2nd	W NCAA Division II Championship	1	1
2023	Ferris State	8–3	5–1	2nd	L NCAA Division II First Round	9	6
2024	Ferris State	14–1	7–0	1st	W NCAA Division II Championship	1	1
2025	Ferris State	1–0	0–0
Ferris State:		138–21	91–11
Total:		138–21
National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

Awards

• 2004 Michigan High School Football Coaches Association (MHSFCA) Division 2 Coach of the Year^[9]
• 2006 MHSFCA Division 2 Coach of the Year^[9]
• 2006 Michigan High School Coaches Association Coach of the Year^[9]
• 2008 MHSFCA Division 2 Coach of the Year^[9]
• Member, Michigan High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame^[9]
• 2021 D2Football Head Coach of the Year^[10]
• 2022 D2Football Head Coach of the Year^[11]
• 2024 D2Football Head Coach of the Year^[12]