Kyle \"Bubba\" Schweigert, who guided the University of Minnesota Duluth to its only North Central Conference football title, has announced his resignation as the Bulldogs' head coach to become the defensive coordinator at Southern Illinois University. He is expected to begin his duties with the Salukis by next week.
\"My heartfelt gratitude goes out to UMD Athletic Director Bob Nielson and Chancellor Kathryn Martin for giving me the opportunity to lead the football program the last four years,\" said the 45-year old Schweigert. \" It was truly an honor to serve UMD in this capacity as we entered the journey into the NCC. My wife Laura and I will always cherish our time in Duluth and being a part of the university family. The support we received from the athletic and administrative staff, community, alumni, and friends will always hold a special place in our hearts.\"
The past Saturday, Southern Illinois, a Football Championship Subdivison institution (formerly known as NCAA Division IAA), named Dale Lennon its new head football coach. Lennon held that same position at the University of North Dakota where he and Schweigert were coaching colleagues for 13 years. During Lennon's first five seasons as the Fighting Sioux head coach (1999-2003), Schweigert was his defensive coordinator.
In four years at UMD, Schweigert rolled up a 22-21 overall record. Two years ago, his troops went 8-4 (defeating three American Football Coaches Association Top 20 teams along the way), captured a share of the NCC championship, and secured the school's second-ever NCAA Division II playoff berth. For his efforts, Schweigert was selected the d2football.com Northwest Region Coach of the Year and the AFCA Division II Coach of the Year for Region 5.
\"I can't say enough about my coaching staff and their loyalty and commitment to UMD and Bulldog football,\" added Schweigert, who is just the fifth full-time head coach the Bulldogs have employed in the 75-year history of their storied football program. \"My players also also deserve a great, big thank you. Their work ethic and faith in me as their coach are the reason I want to continue working in this profession. Leaving the coaching staff and the team made this choice a very difficult one.\"
Schweigert officially joined the Bulldog football staff on Dec. 23, 2003, taking the head coaching reins from Nielson, who was appointed UMD's director of intercollegiate athletics
\"On behalf of the entire UMD community, I would like to thank Coach Schweigert for his outstanding leadership with the Bulldog football program over the past four years,\" said Nielson. \"He is a tremendous person who represented the university with the highest level of professionalism. We wish Bubba, Laura and their two children the very best in this new endeavor.
\"Coach Schweigert leaves us with a solid foundation, a strong coaching staff and a terrific group of student-athletes. We will now work as quickly as possible to fill his vacated position.\"
