Jerry Schmitt (born September 16, 1960) is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach at Duquesne University, a position he had held since the 2005 season. Schmitt served as the head coach at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania from 2000 to 2004. He is an alumnus of Westminster College, where he played as an offensive lineman on the football team. Prior to receiving the head coach position at Westminster, Schmidt was an assistant at Duquesne and a high school football coach in Pennsylvania.
After graduating from PittsburghâÂÂs Keystone Oaks High School in 1978, Schmitt played for Westminster College in Pennsylvania. As a senior in 1981, he led them to an undefeated regular season. In his time there, he was a three-year letterman.
Schmitt began his career as the offensive and defensive line coach while also coaching junior varsity basketball at West Allegheny High School.
Schmitt first joined Duquesne in 1985 as an assistant coach. His first stint lasted up until 1987.
In 1990, Schmitt landed the head coaching position at South Fayette High School after stints at other high schools. This was his first time being a head coach of a football team after years of being an assistant coach. His teams struggled that year, with South Fayette going 1âÂÂ8âÂÂ1, and the Beaver High girls' varsity team going 4âÂÂ6.
The following year, the football team improved slightly, going 3âÂÂ7. He resigned after that season, looking for other opportunities.
In 1992, Schmitt returned to Duquesne as an assistant coach. The following year, he was named offensive coordinator. In his time as Duquesne's offensive coordinator, they went 53âÂÂ21.
In 2000, Schmitt was named as Westminster College's new football head coach. In his time with Westminster, he had a record of 28âÂÂ21 and saw the team transfer from Division II to Division III.
However, COVID-19 issues scrapped the only game outside Big 12 play last season along with a bowl appearance.
Duquesne began the 2021 season with a 45âÂÂ3 loss to the TCU Horned Frogs. They finished the season 7âÂÂ3, and 5âÂÂ2 in the NEC in 2021.
In 2023, Schmitt was named the NEC Coach of the Year, his second since 2018. That season, they went 6âÂÂ1 in their conference and had an overall record of 7-4. With a win over Merrimac, they won the NEC title and qualified for the FCS playoffs. In the first round, they were defeated by the Youngstown State Penguins.