Bubba Schweigert

Position: Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Experience: Third Year Alma Mater: Jamestown College, 1985

Last updated on Jan. 18, 2011

The 2011 season will be Bubba Schweigert's fourth season as the defensive coordinator for the Salukis and his third year serving as the associate head coach.

He worked miracles with his 2010 defense. Despite the fact that his side of the ball was decimated with injuries - four starters in the secondary were lost to season-ending injuries and 50 games in all were lost by players on the two-deep - his unit still led the Missouri Valley Football Conference in total defense. The Salukis only gave up an average of 332.1 yards per game, which was by far the best mark in the league.

Schweigert's defensive philosophy evolves around pressuring the quarterback and creating turnovers.

His 2009 defense ranked second nationally by intercepting 23 passes on the year and the Salukis tied for fourth nationally with 33 turnovers gained. Schweigert's defense that year also ranked eighth-nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 15.92 points per game.

In 2008, SIU was tied for 12th nationally in turnovers gained (29) and in three seasons his teams have forced an average of 2.2 turnovers per game (81 total).

Southern Illinois led the MVFC in 2009 with 36 sacks, a figure that ranked 12th nationally.

Because of the success from his defense, it is no surprise that many of his players have received numerous accolades. In his first three seasons at SIU, Schweigert has had two first team All-Americans and 14 All-Conference selections (seven first team, four second team, three honorable mention).

Cornerback Korey Lindsey garnered All-American accolades in each of his three seasons under Schweigert, and is one of just two players in school history to be an All-American in three separate seasons.

Lindsey was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award in 2010, as was linebacker Brandin Jordan the year before.

Prior to SIU, Schweigert compiled a 22-21 record as head coach at Division II Minnesota Duluth (2004-07). He was named the North Central Conference Coach of the Year in 2005 after directing UMD to an 8-4 record, defeating three American Football Coaches Association Top 20 teams along the way. His team won a share of the school's first NCC title and its second NCAA Division II playoff berth in four years. Schweigert was also named the D2football.com Northwest Region Coach of the Year and the AFCA Division II Coach of the Year for Region 5.

Prior to UMD, Schweigert spent 15 seasons at the University of North Dakota where he helped guide the Fighting Sioux to six NCC titles, eight playoff appearances and a Division II National Championship in 2001. He was Dale Lennon's defensive coordinator from 1999-2003. The coach was named the AFCA DII Assistant Coach of the Year in 2000.

Before joining North Dakota, Schweigert was the defensive coordinator at his alma mater, Jamestown College (N.D.), from 1985-88. He also served as admissions counselor and head baseball coach.

Schweigert, 48, has a bachelor's degree in business administration from Jamestown College and a master's degree from North Dakota. In 2002, he was honored with Jamestown College's Rollie Greeno Award for Outstanding Commitment in the field of education and coaching.

Schweigert and his wife, Laura, have two sons, A.J. (8) and Cooper (5).