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| UW-La Crosse athletics photo |
Northern State University, an NCAA Division II school in South Dakota, named Mike Schmidt as its next head football coach, Northern State athletic director Josh Moon announced Monday. Schmidt is the 30th head coach in program history and the seventh since 1980.
"I am excited and honored to be the next head football coach at Northern State University. I can't wait to lead NSU Football as we take the next step in pursuit of greatness. Our family is thrilled to join the Aberdeen community," said Schmidt. "This is a great opportunity. I am thankful to work with Dr. Downs and Josh Moon as we build a premier NSIC program."
He completed his fourth season as UW-La Crosse's head football coach in 2019. Named the 13th head football coach in school history Feb. 4, 2016, Schmidt went 27-13 (.675) overall and 17-11 (.607) in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in four seasons at the helm of the Eagles.
With a minimum of four years as head coach, Schmidt's .675 winning percentage ranks third in school history. Clark Van Galder ranks first at .851 (31-5-1 in four years) and Roger Harring second at .771 (261-75-7 in 31 seasons). Harring ranks first in school history and fifth in the history of NCAA Division III in overall victories (261).
UW-La Crosse's 22 overall victories over the last three seasons are the most since 2003-05 (22) while its 15 league wins are the most in a three-year span since 2004-06 (15).
"UW-La Crosse will forever hold a special place in my heart," said Schmidt. "However, it's time for me to move on and it's time for a new leader to take UWL Football to the next level. I can't wait to watch that happen."
A total of 47 All-WIAC selections were earned in Schmidt's four seasons at UW-La Crosse, including nine first team honors. Thirteen players were named to the 2019 All-WIAC Team, including four first team selections. Senior wide receiver Cole Spieker was named the 2019 WIAC Offensive Player of the Year and selected as one of 12 semifinalists for the Gagliardi Trophy, awarded to the best player in NCAA Division III. A total of 14 all-conference selections were made under Schmidt in 2017 while 10 earned all-league honors in 2016 and 2018.
UW-La Crosse finished 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the WIAC in back-to-back seasons in 2018 and 2019. The Eagles placed third in the conference standings in 2019, including a 31-3 victory over eventual co-champion UW-Oshkosh. UW-La Crosse was ranked 25th in the final regular-season D3football.com Top 25.
Serving as offensive coordinator in 2019, UW-La Crosse averaged 31.8 points and 405.5 yards of offense per game under Schmidt. The Eagles tied a school record with 29 passing touchdowns while averaging 5.8 yards per play, totaling 4,055 yards and scoring 40 offensive touchdowns. UW-La Crosse went 214-of-389 in passing attempts in 2019 with 3,059 yards. The passing yards ranks second in single-season school history while the 389 attempts are second and completions tied for third.
UW-La Crosse placed second in the league standings in 2018, recording its best finish since 2006. The Eagles received votes in the final 2018 D3football.com and AFCA Top-25 Polls.
Schmidt led UW-La Crosse to an 8-2 overall and 5-2 conference record in 2017. The Eagles' eight overall and five league wins were the most since finishing 9-2 overall and 6-1 in the WIAC in 2006. The team placed third in the 2017 conference standings, its highest finish since second in 2006. Named the 2017 La Crosse Tribune Sportsperson of the Year, Schmidt led the Eagles to be ranked in the final two national polls of the 2017 season, finishing 24th on D3football.com and 25th in the AFCA. Wide receiver Nick Holcomb earned three first-team All-America honors in 2017, being named to the AFCA, Associated Press Little All-America and D3football.com First Teams. He was one of four finalists for the 2017 Gagliardi Trophy.
Schmidt led the Eagles to a 5-5 overall record in 2016. UW-La Crosse set single-season school records for passing completions (258), attempts (421) and yards (3,084) in 2016 while finishing second in first downs (250), total offensive attempts (883) and total offensive yards (4,748). The Eagles finished second in the WIAC in pass defense (163.8 yards per game) and third in total defense (352.9) in 2016 with Schmidt serving as the team's defensive coordinator.
"I would like to thank the players and coaches for making UW-La Crosse football so special over the past four years," added Schmidt. "UW-La Crosse Football is once again a perennial contender in the WIAC. That's because of the work that the players and assistant coaches poured into this program. I am humbled and honored to have been their head coach. Thank you, Kim Blum, for taking a chance on a young coach and then letting me be myself. I am forever grateful for the opportunity that you gave me and the culture you let us create."
A native of Menomonie, Wisconsin, Schmidt served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at UW-Platteville in 2015. He coached Andrew Robinson while at UW-Platteville, the 2015 WIAC Defensive Player of the Year and All-WIAC First Team selection. Robinson was named a finalist for the 2015 Cliff Harris Award, an award presented to the top defensive player represented in the nation's small colleges.
Prior to arriving at UW-Platteville, Schmidt was the defensive coordinator and coached the linebackers and defensive backs at the University of Dubuque (Iowa) from 2011-14. He also served as the recruiting coordinator from 2009-14.
Named the 2013 AFCA Division III Assistant Coach of the Year, Schmidt coached running backs (2009-10), defensive backs (2009) and offensive line (2010) at Dubuque. He served as a graduate assistant coach at Minnesota State University Mankato in 2008, coaching the defensive line. Schmidt is a member of the AFCA and the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association.
A 2008 graduate of UW-La Crosse, Schmidt was a four-year football and baseball letter winner for the Eagles. He served as a two-sport team captain in 2007-08 while earning his bachelor's degree in marketing. Named to the 2007 WIAC Honorable Mention Football Team as an all-purpose back, Schmidt recorded two rushing touchdowns one receiving touchdown. He was a 2008 all-conference honorable mention selection in baseball after hitting .340 and leading the Eagles in home runs (6) and RBI (38). Schmidt was also named to the 2008 All-WIAC All-Sportsmanship Baseball Team.