DETROIT, Mich. -- The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame has announced that legendary Albion College football coach, Pete Schmidt, is part of its 2020 induction class. Schmidt spent 14 seasons at the helm of Britons football, leading the squad to the 1994 Division III National Championship.
A remarkable leader of Albion football, Schmidt coached the Britons to nine Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association titles and five NCAA Tournament berths. During that time, he posted an impressive 104-27-1 record. His first season with Albion was in 1983.
"Coach Schmidt's induction into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame is an incredible recognition of a coaching career filled with excellence," said current Albion head football coach, Dustin Beurer. "It may sound cliche, but coaches like to be judged not only by their wins and achievements on the field, but also by how their players turn out as husbands, fathers and what they achieve in their careers. I did not have the opportunity to meet Coach Schmidt, but I have had the opportunity to meet and get to know his wife, children, grandchildren and many of his former players. I can say without question he would be proud of the outcomes of the many people he influenced through his life and career."
A career filled with accomplishments, Schmidt led the Britons to a 13-0 season in 1994, culminating in the Division III National Championship -- the first for Albion College. The historic season was capped by a 38-15 win over Washington & Jefferson in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl on December 10.
"There is no coach more deserving of an induction into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame than Coach Schmidt," said Director of Athletics, Matt Arend. "Coach Schmidt was able to lead his Albion College teams to unparalleled success on the football field. He did this within the true spirit of Division III athletics by focusing on pushing his athletes to not only be successful on the field, but successful in the classroom and life as well. Coach Schmidt's induction into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame makes me happy for his family, those athletes that played for him and everyone at Albion College that had the pleasure of working with him during his tenure on campus."
Schmidt passed away in 2000 after a year-long battle with cancer. That same year, Schmidt was posthumously inducted into the Albion College Athletic Hall of Fame. Since 2001, the Pete Schmidt Memorial Scholar Athlete Award has been presented each year by the MIAA football coaches to an outstanding scholar athlete at a conference institution.
The class was announced on Wednesday evening. Schmidt will be inducted along with eight other individuals, including Chauncey Billups and Shane Battier. More information can be found through the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.