Mike Schmidt - Football Coach - Mississippi State

Mike Schmidt

Title:
Assistant Football Coach (Tight Ends & Tackles/Run Game Coordinator)
Phone:
662-325-3470

Mike Schmidt joined Mississippi State's staff on January 20, 2023, as tight ends and tackles coach/run game coordinator.

Schmidt came to Starkville after two seasons at Syracuse (offensive line coach/run game coordinator) and nine seasons at San Diego State (offensive line coach).

Schmidt made an immediate impact in the Syracuse's run game in 2021, leading to his promotion to run game coordinator for 2022. His unit paved the way for Syracuse to lead the ACC and rank No. 17 nationally in rushing yards per game (213.5) in 2021, before clearing paths for a All-American Sean Tucker who turned in a 1,000-yard rushing season in 2022.

In his first season at Syracuse, his unit helped produce the fifth-most productive rushing season in the Orange's program history, rushing for 2,562. They also blocked for Tucker, who was a semifinalist for both the Doak Walker and Maxwell Awards. Tucker posted the fourth-most rushing yards per game in the country (124.7) and eclipsed Joe Morris’ 42-year old rushing record to finish with 1,496 yards. He also finished third nationally in yards from scrimmage (1,751) and scored 14 total touchdowns. Orange quarterback Garrett Shrader also tallied the second-most rushing yards (781) and rushing touchdowns (14) by a ‘Cuse QB ever.

Left tackle Matthew Bergeron and center Airon Servais picked up All-ACC accolades, but Schmidt’s unit needed depth as it was hampered by injury this season. Eight different players started at least one game and the team used seven different offensive line combinations to make up for player absences due to injury and illness - a mark that was tied for fourth in the nation.

Tucker followed up his record-breaking performance by becoming the first back in program history to post over 1,000 rushing yards and 250 receiving yards in back-to-back seasons behind Schmidt's line in 2022. Bergeron again earned All-ACC accolades, earning a second team nod at left tackle. It was the highest mark by an Orange tackle since joining the league in 2013. In his second season supervising the line, the Orange improved to eighth in the ACC in total offense (from 10th), seventh in passing offense (from 14th), second in red zone offense (from 13th) and seventh in scoring offense (from 10th) compared to the year prior.

Prior to Syracuse, Schmidt had been coaching offensive line for over a decade at San Diego State, where he has mentored a unit that has paved the way for one of the nation’s top rushing attacks.

Schmidt’s coaching career at San Diego State began at San Diego State in 2009 after he graduated from the University. Since he took over as a full-time member of the staff in 2012, San Diego State ranked 15th nationally in yards per carry (5.0), 15th in rushing yards per game (216.9) and tied for 21st nationally in touchdowns (201) over that span.

In his nine seasons as the team’s offensive line coach, 15 different offensive linemen earned All-Mountain West accolades, including six first-team honorees in the past six seasons. Schmidt has also mentored multiple NFL Draft selections, including Nico Siragusa (2017 - Baltimore Ravens), Terry Poole (2015 - Seattle Seahawks) and Keith Ismael (2020 - Washington Football Team)

In 2017, Schmidt’s line paved the way for All-American running back Rashaad Penny to lead the nation in rushing. The year prior, Donnell Pumphrey became the NCAA’s all-time leading rusher with 6,405 yards and the Aztec offense set program records in rushing yards (3,680), rushing touchdowns (34), yards per carry (5.8) and points (493). Under Schmidt’s tutelage that season, Tyler Roemer earned Freshman All-America honors.

The rushing records broke those that were set in 2012, which was Schmidt’s first year coaching the SDSU offensive line. Prior to him taking over the position, he worked with the program as an offensive graduate assistant from 2010-11. In that time, the Aztecs allowed the fifth (0.69/2010) and seventh (0.85/2011) fewest sacks per game in the nation.

Schmidt joined the coaching ranks after a successful playing career at San Diego State from 2005-08 that saw him transition from a walk-on defensive lineman to a scholarship offensive lineman and team captain in his senior season.

The Aztecs went to 10-straight bowls from 2010-2019 and posted a 10-win season in four of Schmidt's last six years there.

THE MIKE SCHMIDT FILE

Position: Tight Ends & Tackles/Run Game Coordinator
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.
Education: San Diego State, 2009
Wife: Jennifer
Children: Brayden

COACHING CAREER

2023-present: Mississippi State (Tight Ends & Tackles/Run Game Coordinator)
2022: Syracuse (Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator)
2021: Syracuse (Offensive Line)
2012-20: San Diego State (Offensive Line)
2009-11: San Diego State (Graduate Assistant)

BOWL GAMES AS A COACH

2022 Pinstripe Bowl
2019 New Mexico Bowl
2018 Frisco Bowl
2017 Armed Forces Bowl
2016 Las Vegas Bowl
2015 Hawaii Bowl
2014 Poinsettia Bowl
2013 Idaho Potato Bowl
2012 Poinsettia Bowl
2011 New Orleans Bowl
2010 Poinsettia Bowl