Mike Schmidt enters his sixth season as the head football coach at Northern State in the fall of 2025. He joined the Wolves after spending four seasons as head coach at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UWL), where he posted a 27-13 record overall. Heading into the fall season, Schmidt holds a career record of 51-33.
The 2024 Northern State football team went 6-5 overall and closed out the season winning six of their last seven games. Four Wolves were honored on the NSIC All-Conference teams and Jake Adams went on to grab two All-American honors and recognition from D2Football.com. Two were honored on the CSC Academic All-District team. The Wolves tallied wins over Winona State, (RV) Bemidji State, Minnesota Duluth, Southwest Minnesota State, Concordia-St. Paul, and Wayne State.
The fall of 2023 saw the Wolves going 5-6 overall. They tallied a comeback victory over Wayne State in mid-October (28-26), tallied home victories against UMary (41-10) and Minot State (46-9) over Gypsy Days, spoiled Southwest Minnesota State’s homecoming (24-17), and sealed their season with a 44-20 victory over Northern Michigan in their first non-conference contest in over ten years. Seven single game, season, and career school records were tied or broken in 2023, while four Wolves were named to the NSIC All-Conference teams. Dewaylon Ingram rounded out the season as an All-American, while Dakota Larson earned the third CSC Academic All-America honors of his career.
In 2022, the Wolves went 6-5 overall and 3-3 in the North Division. Northern tallied their first NFCA Top-25 victory in the Schmidt-era with a 23-22 win over No. 24 Minnesota State. It was the first win over the Mavericks in over 50 years. NSU and Wolves student-athletes tallied school records in single game point allowed (0 versus UIU), single game average yards per catch (43.7), single game quarterback sacks (4.0), single season punt returns (21.0), single season tackles for a loss yards (124), single season sacks (14.0), and career field goals (32). Six Wolves were named to the NSIC All-Conference teams including Ian Marshall (NSIC Defensive Newcomer and Defensive Player of the Year), Payton Eue (first team), Jacob Howard (second team), Jacob Schloe (second team), Luke Chuol (second team), and Brennan Kutterer (second team). Marshall also earned D2CCA Super Region 4 Defensive Player of the Year, NFCA, D2CCA, and Don Hansen All-America, and a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award.
In his first season on the field (2021), the Wolves posted a 7-4 record from Dacotah Bank Stadium. Northern tallied their first win over USF in the Division II era and first win over Winona since 1999 (breaking a 14 game losing streak). In addition, it was the first time receiving votes in AFCA Top-25 Poll and first NCAA Regional Ranking in program history. Eight Wolves were named to the NSIC All-Conference teams including Nate Robinson (first team), Vance Barnes (first team), Payton Eue (first team), Emmit Bohle (second team), Dewaylon Ingram (second team), Jake Oliphant (second team), Brennan Kutterer (second team), and Chance Olson (second team). Eue, Olson, Barnes, and Dakota Larson tallied CoSIDA Academic All-District honors, while Larson and Olson advanced to the Academic All-America team. Finally, Olson was named to the AFCA All-America second team, as well as the Don Hansen All-American team alongside teammate Dewaylon Ingram.
Schmidt's .675 winning percentage ranks third in school history. UWL won 15 league games over the past three seasons, matching the most league victories in a three-year span since 2004-06. A total of 47 All-WIAC selections were earned in Schmidt's four seasons at UWL, including nine first team honors. Thirteen players were named to the 2019 All-WIAC Team, including four first team selections.
The Eagles placed third in the conference standings in 2019, including a 31-3 victory over eventual co-champion UW-Oshkosh. UWL was ranked 25th in the final regular-season D3football.com Top-25 Poll while receiving votes in the final American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top-25 Poll.
A native of Menomonie, Wisconsin, Schmidt served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at UW-Platteville in 2015. 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 (Iowa). He served as a graduate assistant coach at Minnesota State University Mankato in 2008, coaching the defensive line.
A 2008 graduate of UWL, 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. Schmidt and his wife, Morgan, have three children. He is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Missional Christianity degree at Dubuque (Iowa) Theological Seminary.
| Mike Schmidt Year-by-Year |
|
|
Overall |
Conference |
|
| Year |
School |
W |
L |
W |
L |
Finish |
| 2016-19 |
Wisconsin-La Crosse |
27 |
13 |
|
|
|
| 2021 |
Northern State |
7 |
4 |
7 |
4 |
5th / 3rd (North) |
| 2022 |
Northern State |
6 |
5 |
6 |
5 |
8th / 3rd (North) |
| 2023 |
Northern State |
5 |
6 |
4 |
6 |
8th |
| 2024 |
Northern State |
6 |
5 |
6 |
4 |
8th |
| Total |
|
51 |
33 |
23 |
19 |
|
