Aberdeen, S.D. – Northern State University head football coach Mike Schmidt announced today the resignations of Donnell Kirkwood and Isaac Fruechte. Kirkwood will join the staff at Western Illinois University, while Fruechte was named the offensive coordinator at Winona State earlier today. The pair joined the Northern State staff in December of 2019.
 
"I would like to thank Coach Fruechte for his dedication to Northern State football over the past two years," noted Schmidt. "He led an offense that had one of the best statistical and most exciting seasons in history of Wolves football. He's a great coach and a dear friend. I am happy for Isaac and Kenzie to get back to their home area and be able to raise their kids with their families nearby. This is a tough loss for Northern State Football but it is also an opportunity to bring in someone new to help elevate our program to a championship level."
 
Prior to NSU Fruechte made coaching stops at the University of Northern Iowa and University of Wisconsin LaCrosse.
 
"Coach Kirkwood brought tremendous energy to our program," explained Schmidt. "He had deep, strong relationships with our players and worked tirelessly with many of them on their academics. He deserves an opportunity to Coach Division I football and he has an incredible future ahead of him in this business. I want to thank Coach Kirkwood for all that he has done for the program, the players, and the campus community."
 
Prior to NSU Kirkwood was an assistant coach at Southwest High School, Andover High School, and DeLaSalle High School.
 
The football program will immediately begin searches to fill both positions.