Dec. 11—GRAND FORKS — Eric Schmidt’s path in college football came full circle Wednesday, speaking where it all started — at the site of old Memorial Stadium around the likes of Dale Lennon and Bubba Schweigert.
As a player, Schmidt captained UND to a 2001 NCAA Division II national championship.
As an assistant coach, Schmidt helped UND win the 2016 Big Sky Conference title and find its path as a Division I newcomer.
On Wednesday, Schmidt was officially introduced as UND head coach, tasked with elevating the program to the elite powers of the FCS landscape.
UND athletic director Bill Chaves and UND President Andrew Armacost introducted Schmidt in the theater room of the newly constructed Hyslop at Memorial Village, which sits on the land that was previously Memorial Stadium.
“Such an important announcement as we talk about the future of the UND football program,” Armacost said. “(Schmidt) will lead as a winner and a developer of these young men as human beings off and on the field. That’s what we’re about: Winning and winning the right way, and we know you’ll do that in many, many ways.
“Football in the Dakotas is the best in the FCS. I know for a fact Eric is going to usher in an era of University of North Dakota football that builds on the tradition of excellence and brings us not only to a Missouri Valley Football Conference championship but also to compete in and win a national championship for the University of North Dakota.”
After leaving UND as defensive coordinator in 2019, Schmidt made coaching stops at Fresno State, Washington and San Diego State. He returns to Grand Forks equipped with the knowledge and experiences that come with coaching at college football’s highest level.
“I left in 2019 because I knew I needed to grow and learn and add more tools to the toolbelt,” Schmidt said. “This place has always been near and dear to my heart.
“There’s no other FCS job in the country I would’ve applied for. This one means something different.”
Schmidt rose through the coaching ranks the last five years with the help of now-Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer, who knew Schmidt from their time together at Southern Illinois. They coached a resurgence at Fresno State and led Washington to the 2023 national championship game.
“I want kids from the area to know we have the blue print,” Schmidt said. “We’ve been there and done it at the highest level. I want kids from North Dakota and the area to know you don’t have to leave to be successful and be developed. That means something to me because I was one of those kids not that long ago.”
Schmidt takes over a 5-7 UND team that lost five-straight games to close the 2024 season. After the season, Bubba Schweigert announced he was stepping down as head coach and transitioning to a role in the athletic department.
For Schmidt, the timing was right.
“It’s always been in the back of my mind,” he said. “At this time, everything lined up. It was the right timing and the right place.”
Schmidt said he developed a confidence in coaching the high-end talent at Washington, which included now-Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze, now-Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and now-Falcons linebacker Bralen Trice.
“Those guys just want to be poured into and developed,” Schmidt said. “They’re no different than Simon Romfo and Bo Belquist. They want to be developed.”
Schmidt was the special teams coordinator at Washington.
“The most impressive thing I’ve done is special teams,” Schmidt said. “You’re in front of them more than everyone else. You have all the roster management because you’re the guy making sure who’s the third guy running down a kickoff. When everyone is leaving to get a beer at the Alerus because we’re punting, that’s the best coaching going on.”
Schmidt thanked a number of coaches, family and friends in attendance for their support, including Lennon and Schweigert. Schmidt’s parents, his wife and three kids were also in the audience.
“The work works,” Schmidt said of his time coaching at the FBS level. “It’s no different at those places. Dale Lennon can coach at the places I’ve been. Bubba Schweigert can coach at the places I’ve been.
“I came in with guys that were players’ coaches. They cared. That word gets thrown around a lot, but they cared. I have guys here who were in my wedding and guys I played with. That’s why this place is special.”
Schmidt said he’s ready to implement what he’s learned in the FBS at UND.
“The same things that work there are going to start here in January,” Schmidt said. “Our guys need to roll up their sleeves and follow the protocols. If they do that, this place will take off.”
