SLIPPERY ROCK — George Mihalik is a member of five different Halls of Fame.

He never thought there would be a sixth.

But the possibility is now out there.

The retired Slippery Rock University football coach — who still lives in Slippery Rock — has been nominated for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Mihalik was nominated by SRU sports information director Jon Holtz and made the ballot released Tuesday by the National Football Foundation.

“His name deserves to be out there,” Holtz said. “I don't know what his chances are, what all is considered, but his name made the list and that's exciting.”

Mihalik served as head coach at SRU for 28 years (1988-2015). He was 197-111-4 — a .638 winning percentage — won eight PSAC West championships, reached the NCAA Division II playoffs six times, was PSAC Coach of the Year six times and Super Region One Coach of the Year three times.

He was also a three-year starter at quarterback for SRU and was an assistant coach at The Rock for a number of years before becoming head coach in 1988.

Criteria to be eligible for nomination to the ballot are being a head coach for at least 10 years, coach at least 100 games and have a career winning percentage of at least .600.

“George may not have the national success some of the other coaches (on the ballot have), but he played and coached at the same place for 44 years, was a professor all the years he coached ... I don't know if they consider that stuff,” Holtz said.

Mihalik instituted the safety management program at SRU, the field he taught for numerous years.

“Coach was all about family and education,” said current SRU coach Shawn Lutz, who was an assistant under Mihalik for 20 years. “He developed lasting relationships.

“Accomplishing what he did as a coach, while being a professor, balancing those two things while always emphasizing the value of education set him apart. The success he had was awesome.

“The coaching tree he has out there — former players and assistants — is incredible. I'm in the position I'm in because of him,” Lutz added.

Mihalik won his last 17 home games and took SRU to the Division II playoffs in each of his final three seasons.

“His record and resume' speak for themselves,” SRU athletic director Paul Lueken said. “George is very deserving of this. I hope he gets there.”

No former SRU player or coach is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

“I was stunned, shocked,” Mihalik said when learning he was on the national ballot. “Honestly, I'm speechless.

“I think of the contributions of all of my assistant coaches and players through the years. They were responsible for my success, along with the support of my wife, Laura, through all those years.”

Mihalik is one of 33 divisional coaches on the ballot. Others include retired Bloomsburg coach Danny Hale (173 wins, 14 PSAC East titles) and former Washington & Jefferson and California, Pa., coach John Luckhardt (14 conference titles).

Voting is done by College Football HOF members and the 12,000 National Football Foundation members. Each is permitted to vote for two coaches on the ballot.

A NFF committee will review the vote and determine the inductees. The inductees will be announced in January of 2021 with the inductions taking place during a December, 2021, banquet in New York.

Including Division I, there are 40 total coaches on the ballot.

“It's an honor to even be considered for something like this,” Mihalik said. “You coach to help develop young men in life. Something like this was never on my mind.”

Mihalik is already a member of the SRU Athletic Hall of Fame, Butler County Sports Hall of Fame, Cambria County Sports Hall of Fame, Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and Bishop Carroll High School Hall of Fame.