Thomas Michael Hennigan (born October 24, 1951) is a former American football player and coach. He played professionally as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions from 1973 to 1975 New York Jets from 1976 to 1978. Hennigan served as and the head head football coach at the Tennessee Technological University from 1996 to 2005, compiling a record of 52–57.^[2]

College career

Born in Davenport, Iowa, Hennigan was raised in Washington, Iowa.^[1] Following graduation from Washington High School, Hennigan attended and played college football at Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa until the college discontinued their football program in 1970, whereupon he transferred to Tennessee Tech.^[2][3] While at Tech, he was an all-Conference selection in 1972 when he helped lead the Golden Eagles to the Ohio Valley Conference championship.^[3] The next season, as a senior, Hennigan was once again all-conference and a College Football All-America Team honorable mention as he amassed 110 tackles.^[3] The team finished the season with a record of 10–1 and an appearance in the Grantland Rice Bowl. Hennigan was selected to play in the All-American Bowl at season's end.

Professional playing career

Drafted by the Detroit Lions early in the fourth round of the 1973 NFL draft, Hennigan played three seasons at linebacker for the Lions. After the 1975 season, in which he played only four games for Detroit, Hennigan joined the New York Jets.^[1] He played three more NFL seasons for the Jets before a knee injury ended his playing career.^[3]

Coaching career

Hennigan got his coaching start in 1980, working with spring drills at his alma mater before moving on to East Tennessee State for two seasons as linebackers coach. He next served as defensive coordinator at Western Carolina University in 1982 and 1983. After his defense helped Western Carolina reach the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship title game in 1983, Hennigan departed for one-year stints as linebackers coach at Memphis State University in 1984, and defensive ends at Temple University in 1985.^[3] Hennigan returned to Tennessee Tech in 1986, beginning a twenty-year career on the coaching staff. He served as the schools defensive coordinator from 1986 through the 1995 season, after which he was named the head coach for the Golden Eagles. Over the following ten seasons Hennigan's teams compiled an overall record of 52 wins and 57 losses, with their best seasons being 2000 and 2001 when Tennessee Tech won eight games and seven games respectively and each year being ranked in the Division I-AA polls. Citing personal reasons and health concerns, Hennigan resigned as Tennessee Tech head coach in July, 2006. However, a week later he rescinded the resignation, instead taking a medical leave of absence. In November, 2006 Hennigan informed the university that he would not be returning from the medical leave.^[4]

Personal life

Mike Hennigan earned a bachelor's degree in Health and Physical Education from Tennessee Tech in 1973.^[3] He and wife Leslie are the parents of four children. Hennigan was named to the Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 1986. Youngest son Taylor also played his college football for Tennessee Tech.^[5]

Head coaching record