Menominee's Man Among Maroons

June 28, 2012

Ken Hofer walked high school football sidelines as a head coach  for nearly a half-century. That, in itself, is an incredible accomplishment.

But Menominee's recently-retired and legendary coach packed plenty of success into his 48 seasons, a tenure that began in his hometown of Stephenson.

  • Hofer is retiring with a record of 342-136-3 and after three straight nine-win seasons. 
  • His teams have made the MHSAA playoffs at the ends of the last 16.
  • The Maroons won 29 straight games from 2006-2008, with back-to-back 14-0 finishes in 2006 and 2007.
  • His teams won three MHSAA championships, in those two perfect seasons and in 1998.
  • In three of the last six seasons, his offense scored more than 500 points.

"His impact has been felt for generations, and his legacy will continue to inspire students into the future," Menominee superintendent Erik Bergh wrote when Hofer made his announcement.

Click to read our Q&A with the longtime Maroons coach, who stepped down earlier this month. 

PHOTO: Ken Hofer, center in gray sweatshirt, coached Menominee to a 41-6 win over Madison Heights Madison in the 2006 Division 5 Final at Ford Field.

To Ford Field, and Home Again

August 31, 2012

The last time Lansing Catholic and Pewamo-Westphalia's football teams had suited up, it was under the bright lights of Ford Field for last season's MHSAA Finals.

The reigning Division 5 and 7 runners-up, respectively, returned to the field Aug. 24 in a season opener at Holt Junior High, in what was another first-time experience for leaders on both sidelines.

It was the first time in a coaching career spanning four decades that Cougars coach Jim Ahern started anew after making it to the previous season's final game. Despite numerous near-misses while coaching at Ithaca, last season was his first trip to the title game.

Pewamo-Westphalia's Brad Weber has been leading the Pirates for only five seasons, but his school and community also had never made it to a season finale before last November.

Click to see what each had to say after Lansing Catholic opened with a 45-21 win.