North Dakota (MVFC) has tabbed former football player Eric Schmidt to lead the program. Schmidt was most recently the defensive coordinator at San Diego State (Mountain West) and played at UND from 1998 through 2001. Schmidt was a two-time All-conference player and an All-American in 2001.
After his playing days ended, Schmidt became a head coach at the high school level in Minnesota from 2002 through 2005. He returned to North Dakota as the linebackers coach in 2006 and 2007 before moving to Southern Illinois in a variety of positions in 2008. After six seasons with the Salukis, Schmidt became the defensive coordinator at North Dakota in 2014 and remained through the 2019 season.
In 2020 and 2021, he joined Fresno State as the special teams coordinator and defensive line coach. In 2022 and 2023, he was the special teams coordinator and defensive ends coach at Washington with the latter season culminating in a trip to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Schmidt took the San Diego State defensive coordinator job following the 2023 season.
Schmidt will take over for Bubba Schweigert who resigned in November and went 66-57 in his 11 seasons with the Fighting Hawks. Schweigert won two conference titles and made five FCS Playoff appearances.
Photo Credit to University of Washington Athletics
