SAN DIEGO – San Diego State football has hired Mike Schmidt as its run game coordinator and offensive line coach. This will be his second stint on the Aztec coaching staff, previously working as a graduate assistant (2009-11) and the offensive line coach (2012-20).
Schmidt spent the 2023 season as the Mississippi State run game coordinator as well as the tight ends and tackles coach. The Bulldogs averaged 21.83 points per game and 146.8 rushing yards per game under Schmidt's tutelage.
Prior to Mississippi State, Schmidt spent two seasons as the run game coordinator/offensive line coach as Syracuse. Upon his arrival, Syracuse led the ACC and ranked No. 17 nationally in rushing yards per game (213.5) in 2021, before clearing paths for All-American Sean Tucker who turned in a 1,000-yard rushing season in 2022.
In his first season, his offensive unit produced the fifth-most productive rushing season in the Orange's program history, rushing for 2,562. Tucker posted the fourth-most rushing yards per game in the country (124.7) and set a program single-season record 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.
Schmidt went to Syracuse after spending 12 years on San Diego State's coaching staff, including nine as its offensive line coach.
His first stint with the Aztecs was a dominant one, helping SDSU establish itself as one of the top rushing programs in the country. With Schmidt on as a full-time staff member, San Diego State ranked 15th nationally in rushing yards per carry (5.0), 15th in rushing yardage per game (216.9), and tied for 21st in rushing touchdowns (201).
From 2010-19, San Diego State played in 10-straight bowl games and posted a 10-win season in four of Schmidt's last six years.
Across his nine seasons as a full-time staffer, Schmidt oversaw 15 different offensive lineman earn all-Mountain West honors, including six first team recipients in his final six seasons. He also mentored multiple NFL Draft selections, including Nico Siragusa (2017 - Baltimore Ravens), Terry Poole (2015 - Seattle Seahawks) and Keith Ismael (2020 - Washington Football Team).
Under his tutelage, the 2020 offensive line was named to the Joe Moore Midseason Honor Roll for best offensive line in the country. He also saw lineman in his camp named to the Outland Trophy Watch List, Rimington Trophy Watch List, and multiple All-America selections throughout his initial tenure.
In 2017, he coached up a young and inexperienced o-line into a force that paved the way for consensus All-American Rashaad Penny who led the nation with 2,027 rushing yards. This following a season where the Aztecs set program records in rushing yards (3,680), rushing touchdowns (34), rushing yards per carry (5.8), points (493) and field goals (21) behind Schmidt's linemen.
San Diego State produced five consecutive seasons of 2,000 rushing yards and a 1,000-yard rusher from 2009-13 with Schmidt on staff.
An Aztec for life, Schmidt played offensive line for San Diego State from 2005-08 and was a captain in his senior campaign. A former walk-on as a defensive lineman, he changed sides of the ball and earned a scholarship in the fall of 2007. He graduated from SDSU with his bachelor's degree in criminal justice in the fall of 2009.