Menominee football's Hofer retires
June 11, 2012
Longtime Menominee football coach Ken Hofer retired today. He finished with a career record of 342-136-3 and led his team to three MHSAA championships.
But he is best known as the state's guru of the single win offense, which doesn't include a traditional quarterback and puzzled opponents who almost always hadn't seen the attack until running into the Maroons in the playoffs.
From Menominee Area Public Schools:
Ken Hofer, Head Varsity Football Coach of the Menominee Maroons, has announced his retirement today.
Coach Hofer first took control of the Maroon Football program in 1966, and led it to 300+ wins in 41 seasons at the helm, including MHSAA championships in 1998, 2006 and 2007.
More importantly, Menominee High School students and the greater Menominee community have been the beneficiaries of his work with young people. Coach Hofer served as teacher, athletic director, assistant principal, coach and mentor in his association with the school. He had helped to shape the adult lives of hundreds of young people through the years. The students, staff, administration and Board of Education of the Menominee Area Public Schools join in congratulating Coach Hofer on his outstanding service to young people. His impact has been felt for generations, and his legacy will continue to inspire students into the future.
--Erik Bergh, Superintendent
Robichaud's Wheatley Inducted Into NFHS Hall of Fame, Speaks for Class of 2024
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
August 1, 2024
BOSTON — Tyrone Wheatley on July 1 became the 10th Michigan honoree to be inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) – and in addition to that honor, was selected to speak on behalf of the 12-member class during the induction ceremony in Boston.
The now-Wayne State University football coach surely is best known as a star running back for University of Michigan who went on to play 10 seasons in the NFL for the New York Giants and Oakland Raiders. Wheatley did lead his Robichaud football team to the Class B championship in 1990 and earned a Parade All-America honor, running over three seasons for a combined 4,257 yards and 67 touchdowns, including 2,010 yards and 33 scores on 208 carries as a senior in 1990 – the latter despite playing quarterback half of that season.
But Wheatley also is arguably most glorified in Michigan high school athletics for his accomplishments on the track, where as a junior in 1990 he became the first (of still only two) athletes to win four individual events at an MHSAA Lower Peninsula Finals – placing first in the 100 and 200-meter dashes, 110-meter hurdles and long jump. He led Robichaud to the Class B team title that day, scoring 40 of its 49 points. Wheatley completed his high school career in 1991 with three more Class B individual track & field championships and nine total over his final three seasons; he was injured in the 100 during that senior-year meet and could not run his final race to attempt another four-title day.
Wheatley also was a standout on the basketball court for Robichaud, averaging 14 points and 16 rebounds per game as a senior in earning all-state recognition in that sport as well.
He returned to Robichaud as its varsity football coach in 2007 and led that team to a 9-2 record and the MHSAA Playoffs for the first time since 1994. He then served as an assistant football coach at four college programs including U-M and Syracuse, and with the Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars and Denver Broncos. He also served as Morgan State University's head coach from 2019-21 and just completed his first season as head coach at Wayne State.
The video above was shown as an introduction before Wheatley was awarded his Hall of Fame plaque and medal during the induction ceremony. Below, he speaks for the Class of 2024.
Previous Michigan inductees to the National High School Hall of Fame
2022: John E. "Jack" Roberts, MHSAA - Watch
2016: Ken Beardslee, Vermontville Maple Valley - Watch
2011: Brad Van Pelt, Owosso
2007: Jim Johnson, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook
2005: Bob Wood, Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett
2001: Richie Jordan, Fennville
2000: Diane Laffey, Warren Regina
1986: Lofton Greene, River Rouge
1983: Charles E. Forsythe, MHSAA