Head football coach Mike Emendorfer, along with a search committee and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville administration set out last spring to replace seven-year defensive coordinator Rob Erickson.

After reviewing nearly 40 applications, they brought in University of Dubuque’s defensive coordinator, Mike Schmidt, for an interview and decided he was the most applicable man for the position.

“This was the first interview I had since coming to Dubuque,” Schmidt said. “I am not a guy who is looking for the next job, we call them scoop guys. I believe wherever you are at right now should be your dream job.”

Schmidt was hired at Dubuque in 2009 as an assistant coach working primarily with defensive backs. He also helped out with the offensive line and linebackers before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2011.

Emendorfer said Schmidt’s energy, enthusiasm, and ability to adapt from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 package were all critical in their decision to hire the Menominee, Wis. native.

Both Schmidt and Erickson came to the Pioneer program from a 4-3 defense and had to adapt to what was already set up.

“No matter who is coaching, we usually keep the 80/20 rule,” Emendorfer said. “80 percent from last year and 20 percent to what fits our personnel.”

Erickson relocated to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater after he was hired on as defensive coordinator for the team last spring.

“Coach Erickson has been applying for jobs every year since he was hired here,” Emendorfer said. “It was not a shock with him leaving.”

Senior defensive back and two-year starter for the Pioneers, Andre Cooper, said Schmidt and Erickson are noticeably different, but what they both have in common is the knowledge of the game.

“With Schmidt there is much greater intensity, high tempo practice from the beginning to the end,” Cooper said. “Sometimes when Erickson was here, I was hoping he would yell at us more.”

Schmidt said he prides himself on being the type of coach who is loud, enthusiastic, and full of high energy and intensity.

“It’s hard to be a nice guy and then pull the reigns back somewhere later along the road,” Schmidt said. “I am a grinder to the definition of the word.”

Schmidt said he plans to solidify himself as a Pioneer coach for the time being and doing what he is paid to do as efficiently as he can.

Schmidt told the team there is one rule and it is that they do not talk about teams ahead of time or another team in the conference – the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – right now.

Following this Saturday’s contest against Buena Vista University, the Pioneers will cross the Mississippi River to take on head Coach Stan Zweifel’s Spartans in the Battle of the Bridge.

“I worked under Stan in Dubuque, the Z-Man,” Schmidt said. “I don’t know that it will be a real warm greeting, I haven’t spoken to him since.”

Devon Vance, another senior defensive back said Schmidt’s winning attitude on the field and in the office is contagious to the players as well as the coaches.

“He always expects more,” Vance said. “I think the attention to detail has really been helpful, especially having guys come in who haven’t really played that many game snaps.”

Schmidt stressed he wants to be a player’s coach and have relationships with the athletes he deals with on a daily level, but still maintain discipline and respect.

Emendorfer, along with Vance and Cooper they would like to see Schmidt build his legacy as a Pioneer, but understood the reality of the job is that with success comes opportunity.

“I think every coach is looking to take that next step, moving up in the profession,” Emendorfer said. “I see coach Schmidt being here for a period of time, what that period is no one really knows.”

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