Mike Schott is entering his 24thseason as a member of the Minnesota State coaching staff. With Schott on the staff, the Mavericks have combined for a 488-211 record over the past 23 seasons and have advanced to the NCAA Division II National Tournament in 14 of its last 20 seasons, including the school’s first-ever NCAA Division II Championship in 2024. In January of 2007, Schott was elevated to Associate Head Coach.
Minnesota State rewrote the record book during the 2023-24 season that saw the Mavericks claim their first NCAA Division II Championship in team history behind a 35-2 record. Along the way, MSU set team single-season records in scoring (3.141), field goals (1,159), field goals attempted (2,362), three point field goals (342), three point field goals attempted (895), rebounds (1,431), games played (37), wins (35) and winning percentage (.945). The Mavericks also claimed their fifth NSIC regular season championship and their third NSIC Tournament Championship.
In total, four Mavericks claimed All-NSIC honors during their 2023-24 championship season. Malik and Kyreese Willingham were both named to the All-NSIC First Team, with Malik Willingham also garnering NSIC Player of the Year honors. Justin Eagins and Dylan Peeters earned All-NSIC Second Team honors as well. Malik Willingham would later be named to the D2CCA All-American First Team.
During his tenure with the Mavericks, Schott has seen 50 players earn All-North Central Conference or All-NSIC selections. He has seen three players earn Most Valuable Player/Player of the Year awards (Luke Anderson 2007, Atila Santos 2008, Zach Monaghan 2014, Malik Willingham 2024), coached eight Newcomers of the Year (Jamel Staten 2004, Paris Kyles 2006, Travis Nelson 2008, Jarvis Williams 2013, Connor Miller 2015, Jalen Pendleton 2016, Kelby Kramer 2020, Devonte Thedford 2021), and five Defensive Player of the Year winners (Chris Whitfield 2006, Preston Whitaker 2007, Jefferson Mason 2010, Cameron Hodges 2011 and Jarvis Williams 2013) and two Freshmen of the Year (Zach Romashko 2012 and Ryalnd Holt 2020).
Schott has also seen seven players earn All-American honors at MSU as Willingham became the ninth Maverick in school history to earn the honor. Malik Willingham joined Jamel Staten, Luke Anderson (twice), Atila Santos, Travis Nelson, Jefferson Mason and Zach Monaghan as All-Americans at MSU under the Margenthaler & Schott regime.
Prior to coming to MSU, Schott coached with current MSU head coach Matt Margenthaler for three seasons at South Dakota State, first as a student assistant in 1998-99 and from 1999-2001 as a graduate assistant.
A native of Winnebago, Ill., Schott is a 1999 graduate of SDSU where he was a forward on two North Central Conference championship teams, and was a member of a Jackrabbit team that captured a NCAA regional title and advanced to the Division II Elite Eight tournament in 1997. Prior to transferring to SDSU, Schott spent two seasons at Northeastern Illinois. In 2001, Schott earned his master’s degree from South Dakota State.
Schott and his wife, Heidi, are the parents two children (Isabelle and Griffin) and the family resides in Mankato.
