ST. IGNACE — A lifelong St. Ignace resident and longtime football coach will be honored Saturday with induction into the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Les Therrian, 70, retired from coaching in 2016 after four decades of mentoring players in the St. Ignace school district. He is remembered by former players, coaches and fans for his unwavering dedication to the Saints football program.
Therrian played for the Saints from 1968 to 1971 before attending Lake Superior State College in Sault Ste. Marie. He began coaching in 1976 and held positions across junior high, junior varsity and varsity levels. From 1998 to 2016, he coached alongside fellow Hall of Fame inductee Marty Spencer.
The Hall of Fame honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the sport at the high school level.
“When I got started, I was just thrilled. It was a lifelong dream to be out there doing that,” Therrian said. “I enjoyed being around the kids. That was really the biggest thing — all the relationships I had with all those guys. It’s something you will never forget.”
Therrian recalled cutting his honeymoon short in 1976 to ensure he was back in time for his first football practice — a move that set the tone for the dedication that defined his career.