Oct. 3, 2024
Championship Ferris State coaches Daniels, Brandel-Wilhelm, and Annese embrace university’s mission while preparing students for lifelong success
Bob Daniels is beginning his 33rd season behind the bench for Ferris State University’s hockey team, part of powerhouse Bulldog athletic program rich with experienced, championship-level coaches focused on student success.
Daniels’ extensive tenure is nearly matched by volleyball coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm, who started her 29th season this fall. Tony Annese has been at the helm of the Bulldog football team for 13 seasons following years of success at two other levels.
The three are among the winningest coaches in their sports and are key parts of a Ferris State athletic program that has become a destination for student-athletes looking to embrace a winning tradition -- but also to gain life skills to thrive long after they have played their last game.
All three leaders say Ferris State’s enduring institutional focus, a mission of opportunity shaped by founders Woodbridge and Helen Ferris 140 years ago, is a key part of their longevity.
“I really believe in the Ferris mission,” Daniels said. “My experience at other universities shows me Ferris has kept a ‘family feel’ constant through various presidencies and administrations. All of them want our students to have a great experience and education.”
Daniels, Brandel-Wilhelm, and Annese are among the leaders that give Ferris State a national reputation, with University Magazine earlier this year calling it “the premier institution for collegiate athletics in 2024.”
“Known for its exceptional sports programs, the university fosters a robust competitive spirit and nurtures top-tier athletes,” the publication wrote in a ranking of collegiate athletic programs. “With state-of-the-art facilities and experienced coaching staff, Ferris State offers athletes the resources to excel in their sports and academic endeavors, making it the go-to- choice for aspiring sports professionals.”
Daniels joined the Ferris State’s hockey team as an assistant coach during the 1989-90 season and rose to head coach in 1992. He led Ferris State to the program’s second league regular-season championship and its first trip to the Frozen Four and, eventually, the national championship game. He is a two-time Central Collegiate Hockey Association Coach of the Year and a two-time national coach of the year.
Volleyball coach Brandel-Wilhelm ranks fifth among active coaches in NCAA Division II wins, including her time as a head coach at West Virginia Wesleyan University. She had more than 750 wins coming into the 2024 season, ranking 17th in career winning percentage at .742. Her 2024 team is ranked No. in the nation.
Annese already had tremendous success coaching football at the high school and community college levels before coming to Ferris State in 2012. He entered the 2024 season with 125 career NCAA Division II wins and back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022.
All have had opportunities to move on. But they say Ferris State is a special place.
“What’s incredible about Bob and Tia is how committed they are to Ferris State and their programs,” Annese said. “I’m sure Bob and Tia have had chances to move on. Many people always ask me, ‘When are you moving on?’ I’ve been here now for 13 years, and you know it’s been an awesome 13 years. So, it’s just great to be a part of such a fraternity of great coaches and great people.”
Daniels said Ferris State’s location in central west Michigan and the Big Rapids community also is a factor in his decision to put down roots. He ranks sixth in wins among active coaches and is closing in on 500 wins for his professional career. He is second among active coaches in total number of seasons as a head coach.
“We all want our students to have great experiences and educations here at Ferris State University,” he said. “When you talk about those experiences, you also have to go beyond campus and include what the city of Big Rapids contributes to our campus community. That has been so important to making this an easy place to have been during my time here.”
Annese and his football coaching staff experience a similar feeling of community in Big Rapids. While temptations for opportunities beyond Ferris State exist, there is a hold the campus and community have that keeps talented coaches as Bulldogs.
“A lot of our guys have had opportunities to move on,” he said. “Big Rapids has a great community. Our guys and their families have made homes for themselves. A lot of them live right here in Big Rapids. Our success and longevity begin with having great young people to work with who are excited to live and grow in this community.”
Annese, inducted into the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, was a championship coach before leading Ferris State to national prominence.
At the high school level, Annese was 195-41 in 22 seasons as a head coach at Montrose, Ann Arbor Pioneer, Jenison, and Muskegon high schools, earning 15 playoff appearances, five trips to the state semifinals and three state championships.
He then went to Grand Rapids Community College where he led the Raiders to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II National Championship in 2009 and 2011.
Ferris State, founded as a school of opportunity, has a supportive culture that helps coaches succeed in competition.
“The people at Ferris are really supportive of what we do, and it’s a close community on campus,” Brandel-Wilhelm said. “I love the people here, I love what Ferris stands for, and I love the Big Rapids community. It’s a great place for athletes and gives them a chance to grow as people.”
The successful coaches search throughout Michigan and beyond to find top student-athletes who fit their programs and the Ferris State mission.
“I do love my players. I just love being around these athletes who are working really hard at trying to be great, and I love helping them achieve their greatness,” she said. “That’s by far the best thing.”
Brandel-Wilhelm loves recruiting and developing student-athletes who fit the Bulldog volleyball culture as well into the campus and local communities.
“I love how everybody blends together. I love how in the sport you have to depend on each other,” she said. “I just think it’s a place where we can change the world. You can’t have a star in volleyball. It takes a whole team. You constantly have to coordinate what you’re doing together.”
There is no room for complacency as coaches build successful programs with championship histories and aspirations.
“It’s a challenge every year to be great,” Brandel-Wilhelm said. “I have to learn and get better every year, and there’s no better way to go through life than to improve yourself and learn more things and then be able to execute on what you learned.”
THE DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN
Student-athletes say they appreciate the culture created by the three coaching legends.
Trinidad Chambliss, two games into his junior season as a starting dual-threat quarterback in the Bulldog football program, said Annese and his staff create a welcoming environment for alumni, and present and future student-athletes.
“Coach Annese really cares about every one of his players,” said Chambliss, a Grand Rapids native who starred at Forest Hills Northern High School. “The way he cares is not just regarding football, but also outside of football. He treats us like we’re also his sons off the field.”
Chambliss said the doors to the coaches’ offices are open.
“The energy Coach Annese brings to football and during practice makes a big difference,” he said. “He knows what certain players need to be great. He knows when to get on players, when to yell at them, and how certain players will respond.”
Sophomore hockey defenseman Trevor Taulien enjoyed getting to know Daniels and the staff during the recruiting process. Now, as a Bulldog, he appreciates them and the team culture even more.
“It’s a great time, and being around the rink is fun,” he said. “They like to have an upbeat environment and have everyone involved. Our coaches put us to work so we can be a winning and successful team.”
A Bulldog hockey staff with more than 100 combined years of college coaching experience has built and maintains a program founded on strong values. Associate head coach Drew Famulak is looking ahead to his 33rd season, and assistant coaches Mark Kaufman and Dave Cencer have been with the team nearly 20 years.
“They all teach my teammates and me to grow as a leader every day,” Taulien said. “They want us to be great role models for the surrounding community. They teach us to care for and look out for the community that is such a big part of our school. The motto is always to leave a place cleaner than how you found it, even if you didn’t make the mess. They teach us to be super appreciative of the program and people that help out behind the scenes.”
Taulien said the coaches foster a culture of being grateful “to have amazing fans that come support us night in and night out. Lastly, and most importantly, they want us to pass on a legacy after we graduate and to be proud of what we were able to accomplish in the short time we have here.”
Within the Athletics Department there is a culture of support. The time the coaches spend together provides opportunities to see they have more in common than they do not. And they all share their knowledge to develop athletes and people.
“There are more similarities with these sports than people realize,” Daniels said. “Tony’s interaction with his players is something anyone can learn from. He is so open and caring, still in charge, but always frank and concerned with each student-athlete. Tia and I talk about team building and big-game strategy. That goes back across our time here at Ferris.”