New defensive coordinator in place at UW-Platteville

PLATTEVILLE, Wis.­­­ – University of Wisconsin-Platteville head football coach Mike Emendorfer has selected Mike Schmidt to take over as defensive coordinator of his Pioneer football team. Schmidt served as defensive coordinator, linebackers coach, defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Dubuque from January 2011 until being named to his recent position at UW-Platteville. He was named the American Football Coaches Association NCAA Division III National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2013.

Emendorfer had nothing but praise for Schmidt and is looking forward to working with him. "Mike has a very contagious energy both in the office and out on the field," he said. "I think one of his biggest strengths is his ability to connect with our players and be someone who they can look up to as an example on how to be a leader. He is a WIAC guy having played at UW-La Crosse nearly 10 years ago. He knows the competition in this conference very well."

Not only will Schmidt be an asset to the team on the field, according to Emendorfer, but he will be able to attract talent to the team as well. "His ability to recruit in the tri-state area is already proven and we know his addition will help us better recruit the best student-athletes in the area," he said. "Staff relations are one of the biggest keys to our success and Mike fits in really well with the staff we already have in place."

"Mike is motivated, hardworking and trustworthy, all the things I was looking for," added Emendorfer. 

"That's the reason I came here, to work with coach Emendorfer and with the staff," said Schmidt. "I have been so impressed with all of these guys. I just think so much of them."

Last year the Pioneers finished 7-3 and in 2013 they finished 10-2 and won their first NCAA Division III playoff game.

"There's never been a better time to be a member of Pioneer football than right now," said Schmidt. "And where this place is set up to go, between the facilities and the coaching staff and the campus community, within the league there's never been a better time to be a member of this football program. The greatest thing about jumping on board now is that I get to jump in mid-climb where the summit is within reach. The opportunity to compete at a national level and win a conference championship is within grasp for sure and there's never been a better time to do that than right now."

"What a great opportunity to play in the best league in the country at one of the best schools in the country with some of the best players in the country," said Schmidt, who grew up in Menomonie, Wis. and played at UW-La Crosse. "That is awesome for me and to get back in the state system. It's the greatest Division III league in the country and to be a part of that and to compete in that every week is quite an honor and it's home for me."

As for his defensive style, Schmidt says his players will give it everything they have on every play. "You're going to see a team that's going to play with a lot of effort, a lot of toughness, a lot of knowledge and a lot of discipline. Those are the four cornerstones of what I talk about," he said.

Schmidt began at the University of Dubuque in 2009 as running backs coach and recruiting coordinator. Prior to that he was a graduate assistant and defensive line coach from June 2008 through December 2008 at Minnesota State University-Mankato.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in marketing from UW-La Crosse in 2008 and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in missional Christianity at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary.

Written by: Dan Wackershauser, Communications Specialist, University Information and Communications, (608) 342-1194, wackersd@uwplatt.edu