Mike Schmidt Hired as K-State’s Offensive Line Coach
Jan 02, 2026 | Football
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Mike Schmidt, who has helped teams rank in the top 30 nationally in rushing offense multiple times in his 14 seasons as a full-time assistant coach, has been hired as the offensive line coach at Kansas State, head coach Collin Klein announced Friday.
Schmidt comes to K-State after working the past two seasons as the run game coordinator and offensive line coach at his alma mater, San Diego State. It was his second stint with the Aztecs as he also served as a graduate assistant from 2009 through 2011 and offensive line coach from 2012 through 2020.
"My family and I are excited to join the K-State Football Family," said Schmidt. "We can't wait to add to the proud tradition of excellence here in Manhattan."
Schmidt has also worked at two Power 4 schools, guiding the Syracuse offensive line in 2021 and 2022 – the latter of which he was the run game coordinator – while he was the run game coordinator and worked with the tight ends and tackles at Mississippi State in 2023.
"Watching the offensive lines that Mike has coached is extremely impressive," Klein said. "They are physical, detailed and diverse schematically. It became clear quickly that he was the perfect fit for our offense. He is a person of high integrity and family. I can't wait to get to work with him."
This past season at San Diego State, Schmidt coached an offensive line that led the way for a rushing attack that averaged 198.7 yards per game to rank 20th in the nation during a nine-win campaign. The Aztecs tallied six games with at least 200 rushing yards, culminating with a 326-yard, five-touchdown output against North Texas in the New Mexico Bowl. Schmidt tutored Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli to All-Mountain West First Team honors in addition to Christian Jones to second-team honors and Bayo Kannike to honorable-mention accolades.
Prior to returning to San Diego State and his one-year stint at Mississippi State, Schmidt spent two seasons at Syracuse as the run game coordinator and offensive line coach. In his first season with the Orange, Schmidt's offensive line ranked 16th in the nation – and tops in the ACC – with 213.5 rushing yards per game while they ranked 20th nationally and third in the conference by averaging 5.2 yards per carry. Syracuse's 2,562 rushing yards in 2021 was the fifth most in school history, while they blocked for Sean Tucker, who ranked fourth nationally by averaging 124.7 rushing yards per game en route to First Team All-America honors and being named a semifinalist for the Doak Walker and Maxwell awards.
Schmidt coached Matthew Bergeron to All-ACC Honorable Mention accolades in 2021 before picking up second-team honors in 2022. Bergeron went on to be selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft by Atlanta.
Schmidt's offensive lines dominated the running game during his first tenure at SDSU. The Aztecs ranked 16th nationally by combining to average 207.0 rushing yards per game from 2012 through 2020, while they ranked 24th in yards per attempt (4.8) and tied for 29th in rushing touchdowns (227).
Including his time as an offensive graduate assistant coach, San Diego State played in 10-straight bowl games from 2010 through 2019 and posted four 10-win seasons over the final six years of his first tenure.
Across his nine seasons as a full-time coach during his first tenure at San Diego State, Schmidt oversaw 15 different offensive linemen 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), Terry Poole (2015 – Seattle) and Keith Ismael (2020 – Washington).
His initial nine-year run in San Diego saw him coach an Aztec front unit that led the way for five teams that ranked in the top 30 in rushing offense, including a highwater mark of seventh place in 2016 with 262.9 rushing yards per game. That season, San Diego State set program records for rushing yards (3,680), rushing touchdowns (34), rushing yards per carry (5.8) and points (493) behind Schmidt's offensive lines. Additionally, SDSU ranked 10th in rushing yards per game in 2017 (252.5) and 14th in 2015 (233.3).
Schmidt received his start in coaching as an offensive graduate assistant – working primarily with the offensive line – at San Diego State from 2009 to 2011. While in that role, the Aztecs ranked tied for fifth nationally in fewest sacks allowed (0.69 per game) in 2010 and seventh (0.85 per game) in 2011.
A native of San Diego, California, Schmidt played offensive line for the Aztecs from 2005 to 2008, including serving as a team captain his senior season. A former walk-on as a defensive lineman, he changed sides of the ball and earned a scholarship in the fall of 2007.
Schmidt graduated from San Diego State with his bachelor's degree in criminal justice in the fall of 2009. He and his wife, Jennifer, have two sons, Brayden and Beau.
THE MIKE SCHMIDT FILE
Hometown: San Diego, California
College: San Diego State – Bachelor's degree in criminal justice (2009)
Family: Wife: Jennifer; Children: Brayden, Beau
Playing Career: San Diego State (offensive line), 2005-08
MIKE SCHMIDT'S COACHING CAREER
2009-11, San Diego State (Offensive Graduate Assistant)
2012-20, San Diego State (Offensive Line)
2021, Syracuse (Offensive Line)
2022, Syracuse (Running Game Coordinator/Offensive Line)
2023, Mississippi State (Running Game Coordinator/Tight Ends and Tackles)
2024-25, San Diego State (Running Game Coordinator/Offensive Line)
2026, K-State (Offensive Line)
Schmidt comes to K-State after working the past two seasons as the run game coordinator and offensive line coach at his alma mater, San Diego State. It was his second stint with the Aztecs as he also served as a graduate assistant from 2009 through 2011 and offensive line coach from 2012 through 2020.
"My family and I are excited to join the K-State Football Family," said Schmidt. "We can't wait to add to the proud tradition of excellence here in Manhattan."
Schmidt has also worked at two Power 4 schools, guiding the Syracuse offensive line in 2021 and 2022 – the latter of which he was the run game coordinator – while he was the run game coordinator and worked with the tight ends and tackles at Mississippi State in 2023.
"Watching the offensive lines that Mike has coached is extremely impressive," Klein said. "They are physical, detailed and diverse schematically. It became clear quickly that he was the perfect fit for our offense. He is a person of high integrity and family. I can't wait to get to work with him."
This past season at San Diego State, Schmidt coached an offensive line that led the way for a rushing attack that averaged 198.7 yards per game to rank 20th in the nation during a nine-win campaign. The Aztecs tallied six games with at least 200 rushing yards, culminating with a 326-yard, five-touchdown output against North Texas in the New Mexico Bowl. Schmidt tutored Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli to All-Mountain West First Team honors in addition to Christian Jones to second-team honors and Bayo Kannike to honorable-mention accolades.
Prior to returning to San Diego State and his one-year stint at Mississippi State, Schmidt spent two seasons at Syracuse as the run game coordinator and offensive line coach. In his first season with the Orange, Schmidt's offensive line ranked 16th in the nation – and tops in the ACC – with 213.5 rushing yards per game while they ranked 20th nationally and third in the conference by averaging 5.2 yards per carry. Syracuse's 2,562 rushing yards in 2021 was the fifth most in school history, while they blocked for Sean Tucker, who ranked fourth nationally by averaging 124.7 rushing yards per game en route to First Team All-America honors and being named a semifinalist for the Doak Walker and Maxwell awards.
Schmidt coached Matthew Bergeron to All-ACC Honorable Mention accolades in 2021 before picking up second-team honors in 2022. Bergeron went on to be selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft by Atlanta.
Schmidt's offensive lines dominated the running game during his first tenure at SDSU. The Aztecs ranked 16th nationally by combining to average 207.0 rushing yards per game from 2012 through 2020, while they ranked 24th in yards per attempt (4.8) and tied for 29th in rushing touchdowns (227).
Including his time as an offensive graduate assistant coach, San Diego State played in 10-straight bowl games from 2010 through 2019 and posted four 10-win seasons over the final six years of his first tenure.
Across his nine seasons as a full-time coach during his first tenure at San Diego State, Schmidt oversaw 15 different offensive linemen 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), Terry Poole (2015 – Seattle) and Keith Ismael (2020 – Washington).
His initial nine-year run in San Diego saw him coach an Aztec front unit that led the way for five teams that ranked in the top 30 in rushing offense, including a highwater mark of seventh place in 2016 with 262.9 rushing yards per game. That season, San Diego State set program records for rushing yards (3,680), rushing touchdowns (34), rushing yards per carry (5.8) and points (493) behind Schmidt's offensive lines. Additionally, SDSU ranked 10th in rushing yards per game in 2017 (252.5) and 14th in 2015 (233.3).
Schmidt received his start in coaching as an offensive graduate assistant – working primarily with the offensive line – at San Diego State from 2009 to 2011. While in that role, the Aztecs ranked tied for fifth nationally in fewest sacks allowed (0.69 per game) in 2010 and seventh (0.85 per game) in 2011.
A native of San Diego, California, Schmidt played offensive line for the Aztecs from 2005 to 2008, including serving as a team captain his senior season. A former walk-on as a defensive lineman, he changed sides of the ball and earned a scholarship in the fall of 2007.
Schmidt graduated from San Diego State with his bachelor's degree in criminal justice in the fall of 2009. He and his wife, Jennifer, have two sons, Brayden and Beau.
THE MIKE SCHMIDT FILE
Hometown: San Diego, California
College: San Diego State – Bachelor's degree in criminal justice (2009)
Family: Wife: Jennifer; Children: Brayden, Beau
Playing Career: San Diego State (offensive line), 2005-08
MIKE SCHMIDT'S COACHING CAREER
2009-11, San Diego State (Offensive Graduate Assistant)
2012-20, San Diego State (Offensive Line)
2021, Syracuse (Offensive Line)
2022, Syracuse (Running Game Coordinator/Offensive Line)
2023, Mississippi State (Running Game Coordinator/Tight Ends and Tackles)
2024-25, San Diego State (Running Game Coordinator/Offensive Line)
2026, K-State (Offensive Line)
– k-statesports.com –
How to follow the Cats: For complete information on K-State Football, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
How to follow the Cats: For complete information on K-State Football, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
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