by Wes Frahm, director of athletic communications and marketing

Head coach Tom Kearly, running back Phil Milbrath (Norway) and defensive end Todd Storm (Calumet) all received major awards from the GLIAC this week. In addition, a school-record-tying 10 Huskies were named to All-GLIAC teams.

Kearly was named GLIAC Coach of the Year after turning Tech around from a 2-8 season in 2009 to an 8-2 finish in 2010. The Huskies finished in second place in the GLIAC North Division and were tied for second in the league's overall standings. Michigan Tech handed Grand Valley State its only loss and Wayne State one of its two losses as part of a 5-0 record at home on the season. The Huskies were the No. 6-ranked team in the final NCAA Super Region 3 rankings.

Milbrath earned GLIAC Offensive Back of the Year after leading the league in rushing (141.2 yards per game) and scoring (9.6 points per game). He had eight 100-yard games and two 200-yard games with his career-best performance of 293 yards and two touchdowns coming vs. No. 1-ranked Grand Valley State. The 5-9, 200-pound tailback racked up 1,412 rushing yards, 375 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns during his senior campaign.

Storm was selected as the GLIAC Defensive Lineman of the Year after pacing the GLIAC in sacks at 1.0 per game. The 6-3, 240-pound junior registered 10.0 sacks and 14.0 total tackles for loss, which was good for third in the league. Storm was also credited with 38 tackles, four quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles and three pass breakups during the 2010 season.

In addition to Milbrath and Storm, four others earned All-GLIAC First Team. They were Matt Desotell (Green Bay, Wis./Ashwaubenon), Bryan LaChapelle (Crystal Falls/Forest Park), Mike Rittenour (Becker, Minn.) and Drew Vanderlin (Green Bay, Wis./Southwest).

Desotell, a 6-3, 300-pound senior who started 37 career games including 31 straight at left guard, anchored an offensive line that dominated the trenches in 2010. The Huskies were second in the GLIAC in rushing at 261 yards per game and tops in the nation in sacks allowed, giving up only three all season.

LaChapelle, a 6-3, 230-pound tight end, caught 18 passes for 218 yards and four touchdowns in 2010. The sophomore was also a vital part of the Huskies nationally-ranked rushing attack as a blocker.

Rittenour totaled 47 tackles from his middle linebacker position. The 6-1, 235-pound senior also had three interceptions, four tackles for loss and one fumble recovery on the season.

Vanderlin had a dominating year opposite Storm on the defensive line. The junior, who earned All-GLIAC Second Team accolades two seasons ago as a sophomore, registered 32 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks during the season.

Tech's four All-GLIAC Second Team performers in 2010 were Akeem Cason (Benton Harbor), Matt Gaudard (Mt. Pleasant), Steve Short (Iron Mountain/Kingsford) and Jesse Vandenberg (Kaukauna, Wis.).

Cason was picked to the all-conference team as a specialist. The 5-10, 200-pound sophomore tailback averaged 27.6 yards per kickoff return--good for second-best in the GLIAC and 11th in the nation. He returned two kickoffs for touchdowns on the season and also had 10 tackles on kick and punt coverage.

Gaudard, a 6-3, 285-pound junior, started all 10 games at right tackle and is a two-year starter at the position.

Short set nearly every school record for passing and total offense during his career as Tech's quarterback. The senior passed for 1,525 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2010 with just eight interceptions. He also rushed for 384 yards and four scores. The Huskies were 28-14 over the last five years when Short started under center.

Vandenberg put together another consistent season in the Huskies' defensive backfield. The strong safety posted a team-high 83 tackles including 10.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks.

In addition to the 10 players who earned spots on either the All-GLIAC First or Second Team, six Huskies earned All-GLIAC Honorable Mention. They were sophomore linebacker Justin Armstrong (Las Vegas, Nev./Mojave), junior free safety Ben Foelker (Green Bay, Wis./Southwest), senior defensive tackle Jake Klingelhutz (Kingsford), junior cornerback Quinn Parnell (Detroit/Renaissance), senior defensive tackle Matt Payment (Newberry) and senior center Anthony Santi (Kingsford).

Michigan Tech finished its 2010 football campaign last week with a 12-0 shutout of Northern Michigan. The Huskies were 8-2 on the season and received a national ranking of No. 21 in the final American Football Coaches Association regular season poll.