Former player, Schmidt, named UW-L football coach

Menomonie, Wis., native
graduated from UW-L in 2008

From playing for the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse football team to, now, about to take over the program as head coach, Mike Schmidt is the Eagles’ newest hire. 

Schmidt was introduced today, the 13th head football coach in UW-L history. Less than a decade ago, the Menomonie, Wis., native was earning letters for the Eagles in both football and baseball, having graduated in 2008.

“We will be the pinnacle of Division III football,” Schmidt said Friday at the press conference. “To me, this place still is. But that’s what we’ll be.

“I don’t know exactly what that is, or how many championships that is, but we will be the pinnacle of Divisioon III football.”

The Eagles haven’t won a National Title in over 20 years and have been 3-7 the last three seasons.

Schmidt takes over for Joel Detwiller, who resigned in the fall after being hired almost exactly five years ago, today.

Schmidt’s most recent position was as defensive coordinator at UW-Platteville last season.

Before UW-P, Schmidt was defensive coordinator at the University of Dubuque (2011-14), where he was named the 2013 American Football Coaches Association Division III assistant coach of the year. Before that, he was a graduate assistant at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Schmidt beat out three other finalists: Caledonia High School football coach Brent Schroeder, University of Minnesota assistant coach Jim Zebrowski and Illinois-Wesleyan’s Travis Rundle.

Zebrowski has been with the Gophers since 2011, serving as the quarterbacks coach before being elevated to passing-game coordinator. He was also receivers coach for UW-Whitewater from 2007-09. The Warhawks won National Titles twice and lost the other during that span, going 42-3.

Rundle wore many hats at Illinois-Wesleyan – defensive coordinator, head strength and conditioning coach and linebackers coach – since 2011. Before that, he was a graduate assistant at Penn State (2004-06), coaching the defensive line.

Schroeder was coming off an undefeated season, and led Caledonia to MSHSL state titles in four of the past six seasons. His record is 76-3.