Note: An updated version of this story, with comments from Pearson, is available here.

The rumor mill circulated in mid-April that Mel Pearson would leave Michigan to become the head hockey coach at Michigan Tech. Then came reports that the Michigan associate head coach had turned down his alma mater.

Today, Pearson was named head coach at Michigan Tech.

Pearson, long considered the heir apparent to take over the Michigan hockey program, has been on coach Red Berenson's staff for 23 seasons and promoted to associate head coach prior to the 1999-2000 season.

Mel Pearson

"It is a good opportunity for Mel to get a head coaching job at his alma mater," Berenson said in a statement. "He's been a great asset to the Michigan hockey program in his 23 years of service. We're going to miss him, but part of this whole process is to help people move up and develop into head coaches. It's an opportunity that he decided was right for him."

Berenson, 71, has two years remaining on his current contract. He told AnnArbor.com in early April that he plans to fulfill them.

Pearson, 52, had mentioned multiple times over the years as a candidate to take over at Michigan Tech, where he played from 1977-81 and served as an assistant from 1982-88.

"I'm very excited and grateful for this opportunity," said Pearson. "Michigan Tech was the school that gave me my first chance not only as a player but as a coach, and I'm looking forward to working with the university, alumni and community in bringing back the winning tradition."

Pearson replaces Jamie Russell, who went 70-197-37 in eight seasons. The Huskies were 4-30-4 last year. The last time the Huskies qualified for the NCAA Tournament was in 1981, Pearson's senior year.

"Michigan Tech is committed to the hockey program," school president Glenn Mroz said in a release. "Mel shares our goal of returning the program to national prominence, and I'm confident in his ability to develop a program we can be proud of both on and off the ice. We are grateful for the financial support of alumni who partnered with us to make it possible to bring Mel to Tech."

Michigan has a 667-243-71 record during Pearson's tenure behind the bench, including 11 CCHA regular-season titles and two NCAA championships (1996 and 1998).

Michigan Tech has scheduled an 11 a.m. press conference on Tuesday to introduce Pearson.