SMSU Athletics

Recruiting Area: South Dakota (area code: 605)

Mike Aldrich is in his second season as assistant head coach and defensive line/linebackers coach at SMSU in 2016.

Aldrich helped a defense in 2015 that forced 17 turnovers, including two or more in seven games and also limited a pair of opponents to less than 10 points. Defensive end AJ Page ranked third in the NSIC both tackles for loss and sacks and was named second team All-NSIC, while linebackere Tyler Flud received first team All-NSIC accolades.
 
Aldrich came to SMSU after spending two seasons as defensive coordinator at Wayne State College in 2013-14.
 
Prior to his stint at Wayne State, Aldrich served as head coach at Augustana College from 2010-12, where he compiled a record of 22-13 in three seasons. In 2010, Aldrich guided the Vikings to a school record 11 victories and a berth in the NCAA playoffs for the first time in 21 seasons. For his efforts, Aldrich was named the 2010 AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the Liberty Mutual National Coach of the Year.
 
In 2010, the Augustana defense, under the leadership of Aldrich, led the NSIC in total defense and ranked first in Division II in pass efficiency defense, while recording 26 interceptions. In 2011, the Vikings led the conference in rushing defense and were second in total defense.
 
Before becoming head coach at Augustana, Aldrich served as an assistant coach for the Vikings for eight seasons (2001-02 and 2004-09). He coached the team's secondary in 2001 and 2002, before coaching the secondary and special teams in 2004 and 2005. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2006, before becoming head coach in 2010.
 
Aldrich began coaching at St. Olaf College where he spent four seasons. In 1995, he coached the defensive line; he served as assistant offensive coordinator and tight ends coach in 1996, and was in charge of the linebackers in 1997 and 1998.
 
Aldrich then spent the 1999 season as defensive line and co-special teams coordinator at College of the Sequoias (Calif.), before moving to California Lutheran University in 2000, where he coached linebackers and was special teams coordinator. Between stints at Augustana, Aldrich spent the 2003 season as a graduate assistant at the University of Louisville.

 
During his tenure as an assistant coach at Augustana, Aldrich served as head coach and defensive coordinator for the Sioux Falls Storm of the National Indoor Football League from 2000-02. He returned to the Storm as defensive coordinator from 2005-09 where he helped the team win four consecutive United Indoor Football Championships and record 40 straight wins.
 
Aldrich is a 1995 graduate of St. Olaf College with a degree in economics and social studies education. He was a four-year letterwinner for the Oles and served as special teams captain during his junior and senior seasons. He earned his master's degree in kinesiology/sports management from the University of Minnesota in 1999.

Mike and his wife Kristen have three children, Makenna, Joseph and Brianna and live in Minneota.