(NMU Sports Information photo)
Click the AUDIO button to hear Jack Hall's interview with Rick Comley.
DETROIT---Northern Michigan University Athletic Director and former hockey coach Rick Comley has been selected to join the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.
The announcement came Monday in Detroit. Comley will be joined by some of the great names in Michigan sports: former Red Wings star Henrik Zetterberg, former NHL goalie Ryan Miller, former Detroit Pistons star Richard Hamilton, Michigan State football standout Lorenzo White, and legendary NHL broadcaster Mike Emrick.
“Well, I mean, it's an honor, for sure,” Comley told RRN Sports Monday might. “When you see names like Zetterberg and Hamilton and Ryan Miller, as people going in, it's a diverse group, represents a lot of different sports. It's recognition in the entire state. It's not something you think about doing, but it allows you to think back and reflect a little bit about the stops you made along the way. It makes it all very satisfying and worthwhile.”
Comley is best-known as a hockey coach, having started the program at Lake Superior State University in the 1970's, before leaving to do the same at Northern. He won national championships at NMU in 1991 and at Michigan State in 2007.
“If you're a coach, you have to have good players, a staff, and things have to go well,” Comley said. “I was fortunate to have that at three different places. There's people at every stop. No one does it by themselves. Walt Kyle called me tonight. There was Ron Mason at Michigan State. And of course, my wife is always there.”
"This year's class spans generations and represents a diversity of champions and pioneers from the best in Michigan sports history. Congratulations to the Class of 2023," said Scott Lesher, Hall of Fame chairman, in a statement.
The Induction Ceremony will take place at the MotorCity Casino Hotel on Thursday, September 14, 2023 from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Tickets are now available here.
