Michigan football coach Brady Hoke and softball coach Carol Hutchins named school's 'Coaches of the Year'

Posted on Tue, Jun 26, 2012 : 12:51 p.m.

Michigan football coach Brady Hoke and softball coach Carol Hutchins named school's 'Coaches of the Year'

By Nick Baumgardner

Michigan softball coach Carol Hutchins and Michigan football coach Brady Hoke were named the school's "Coaches of the Year" on Tuesday.

File photo

Brady Hoke and Carol Hutchins both had plenty of success last season.

And on Tuesday, the Michigan football and softball coach were honored by the university for their respective achievements.

Hoke and Hutchins were named Michigan's 2011-12 men's and women's "Coaches of the Year." The honors were given out as part of the school's ongoing MGoBlue.com Awards.

Hoke became the first Michigan football coach to record 11 wins in his debut campaign since Fielding H. Yost accomplished the feat in 1901. The Wolverines finished the season 11-2 and captured a Sugar Bowl title in the process.

Brady Hoke

Hoke's 11 wins are just four less than predecessor Rich Rodriguez logged in three seasons, and his six Big Ten wins equalled Rodriguez's output from 2008-10.

Other finalists for the men's honor were basketball coach John Beilein, hockey coach Red Berenson, tennis coach Bruce Berque and swimming coach Mike Bottom.

Hutchins, meanwhile, led the Wolverine softball team back to an NCAA Super Regional despite a transition season that included a freshmen battery for most of the year.

The winningest coach in Michigan history, regardless of sport, Hutchins has now led Michigan to five straight Big Ten championships and 15 overall during her career.

Michigan went 42-17 on the season and was able to knock off No. 9 Louisville, on the road, to capture an NCAA Regional title.

Other finalists for the women's coach of the year honor were tennis coach Ronni Bernstein, field hockey coach Marcia Pankratz, volleyball coach Mark Rosen and rowing coach Mark Rothstein.

Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.

Comments

Macabre Sunset

Tue, Jun 26, 2012 : 5:29 p.m.

This is the 27th straight year Hutch has deserved this award. It would be 28, but she only started here in 1985. I'd give her the 28th anyway. And a hearty thanks to Brady Hoke for restoring pride to the Maize and Blue football team. I hope he finds a way to remain here for 27 seasons.

A2Dave

Tue, Jun 26, 2012 : 5:10 p.m.

Yo, Brady! That's pretty distinguished company. Give you a lot to live up to over the next decade or two. Carol is the Queen of Michigan coaches.