Sigler retires as Olivet College’s head football coach; Livedoti named successor

Olivet College Head Football Coach Irv Sigler has announced his retirement from coaching, effective immediately. A 1965 Olivet graduate, Sigler said the decision to leave his alma mater is based on health issues and the desire to spend more time with his family. Dominic Livedoti, who served as assistant head football coach and defensive coordinator under Sigler the last three years, has been named the Comets' new head coach, according to President Don Tuski.

"The Olivet College football program has been in very good hands the past three years under coaches Sigler and Livedoti," said Tuski. "They have accomplished many great things not only for the program, but for the college as well. While I am sorry to see Irv leave, I am excited Dominic has agreed to remain with the college to lead the positive changes taking place with the Comet football program."

Livedoti previously served as Olivet's head football coach from 1988 to 1992. During that time, the Comets went 21-21-3. His background also includes coaching at Wayne State University and Battle Creek St. Philip, Burr Oak/Colon, West Bloomfield and Ypsilanti high schools.

"Irv and I had a fun three years together and I'm sad to see him leave," said Livedoti. "But I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to serve as Olivet's head football coach once again. When we started here three years ago, the goal was to bring a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship to Olivet. That goal still remains.

"The overall commitment from President Tuski relating to academics and athletics on this campus is a wonderful thing. I look forward to continuing to work with our alumni who are teachers and coaches in the high school ranks as we recruit quality student-athletes for our program."

Livedoti earned a bachelor's degree from Olivet in 1965 and a master's degree from Eastern Michigan University in 1970. At Olivet, he played four years of football and baseball. In baseball, he was a three-time All-MIAA selection. In 1964, he earned All-MIAA honors in football. Livedoti still holds Olivet's record for most receiving yards in a game with 223, which he set in 1963 versus Augustana College.

Sigler, a mastermind of the Wing-T offense, is credited with the dramatic turnaround Olivet's football program experienced during his three years as head coach. During that time, the Comets went 17-12 overall and 8-11 in the MIAA. Prior to his arrival in 2002, Olivet had won 17 games the previous eight seasons combined (1994 to 2001). The Comets broke virtually every school rushing record under Sigler.

"It is very difficult to leave a job I love at a school I love," said Sigler. "I will be a Comet forever. I am very thankful for the support we have had for Olivet College football. The progress the football program has made is the direct result of the outstanding efforts of a lot of people."

In 2002, Sigler led the Comets to an overall record of 5-4, which marked Olivet's first winning season since 1998 and third in the last 25 years. A 49-34 win at Kalamazoo College that year snapped Olivet's 21-game losing streak in MIAA play. In 2003, the Comets went 4-6 overall.

During the 2004 campaign, Sigler's squad had an overall record of 8-2 and tied for second-place in the MIAA at 5-2. Olivet's Wing-T ground attack led all NCAA divisions in rushing offense at 417.1 yards per game. The 45.8 points per game average ranked third among NCAA Division III schools. Sigler led the Comets to a 58-35 season-finale victory at Albion College, a league school the Comets hadn't beaten since 1975. The eight wins ties the most in school history for a single season. The 1967, 1961, 1901 teams also registered eight victories.