He retired from his position on the board November 29, 2018, citing health reasons and wanting to spend time with family.

Perles then started his football coaching career as a graduate assistant at Michigan State before moving on to the high school ranks in Chicago and Detroit, where his St. Ambrose High School team won their first Detroit City League Championship in 1961 and their second one in 1966.

In Perles’ first season, the Steelers made the NFL playoffs for the second time in franchise history, the first since 1947, losing to the Miami Dolphins in the AFC Championship Game.

In 1982, Perles was hired as the head coach of the Philadelphia Stars of the fledgling United States Football League (USFL).

His best team was the 1987 unit, which won its last outright Big Ten title in the pre-championship game era and defeated USC in the 1988 Rose Bowl.

In January, 1990, Perles became Michigan State's athletic director while remaining head football coach.

[6] During 1994–1995, an extensive external investigation conducted by the law firm of Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC.

If not for the forfeits, Perles would rank third on Michigan State's all-time wins list, behind only Daugherty and Mark Dantonio.

[8] *Michigan State forfeited its entire schedule after an academic scandal; record was 5–6 (4–4 Big Ten).