Novi Detroit Catholic Central has chosen Dan Anderson as its new football coach.

Anderson is the school’s longtime assistant coach and defensive coordinator.

Anderson, 48, replaces the legendary Tom Mach, who announced his retirement Feb. 9 after 41 years and 10 state titles with the Shamrocks.

Mach had a career record of 370-94. He ranks third in career victories in Michigan, trailing only former Birmingham Brother Rice coach Al Fracassa (430) and Farmington Hills Harrison coach John Herrington (425). Mach also taught health and physical education at CC for 34 years.

“In the 18 years coaching with Tom Mach, he has helped me to be a better coach, better man and better father,” Anderson said during the school’s announcement this morning at Catholic Central. “The young men who are gonna have the privilege and honor of wearing the valiant blue and peerless white on the 2017 Catholic Central football team, get ready, we have a lot of work to do and, as a family, we’re gonna achieve a lot of great things together.”

CC went 13-1 and lost in the state finals to Detroit Cass Tech this past season.

Anderson, a Pittsburgh graduate, has been with Catholic Central since 1999. He has handled a number of duties with the football program, from being an assistant with the freshman team to being defensive coordinator since 2007. He also has taught social studies, been the dean of students and assisted with with the freshman basketball team. He was named 2008 assistant coach of the year by the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association.

“Coach Anderson’s connection to the Catholic Central community clearly set him apart from the rest of the field,” a school release said announcing the hire this morning. “One of the key factors in the search for a new head coach was the factor of the Basilian charism of Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge developed through authentic relationships between students and staff.  We see the athletics programs as an extension of our classrooms, and Coach Anderson has been living the CC mission for more than 15 years. As a teacher and a coach, he will undoubtedly lead our program into the future with nothing but the best intentions for our school, our community, and most importantly our young men.”

CC is the largest Catholic high school in Michigan, with an enrollment of 1,041 students for the 2016-17 school year.

Anderson also was the football coach for three years at Archbishop Alter High in Kettering, Ohio.

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