Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Schmidt hired to coach outside linebackers and defensive line
01/11/2008 | 12:00:00 | Football
Jan. 11, 2008
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University head coach Dale Lennon announced today that Eric Schmidt will join his staff to coach the outside linebackers and defensive line.
Schmidt, who hails from Mandan, N.D., comes to SIU after spending the last two seasons in the same capacity under Lennon at the University of North Dakota.
Schmidt helped coach a defense that led the North Central Conference in total and pass defense last season.
A former standout linebacker at UND, Schmidt returned to his alma mater in 2005 after spending the previous four seasons as head coach at Crookston (Minn.) High School. He led the Pirates to a Section 8AAA runner-up finish in 2004. The year before that, he was named the 2003 Section 8AAA Coach-of-the-Year.
Schmidt played for the Fighting Sioux from 1998 to 2001 and was captain of UND's 2001 national championship team. A two-time all-NCC pick, he earned All-America honors as a senior in 2001.
Schmidt, 29, received his bachelor's degree in secondary education from UND in 2002.
