Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Wayne State University Athletics

Mike Kaiser

  • Title
    Assistant Defensive Line Coach
UPDATED 6-28-2020
  • Completed his third year at WSU in the fall of 2019
  • Spent the 2018 season at the University of Minnesota
  • Worked at Western Michigan for two seasons (2016 and 2017)
  • Served two years (2014 and 2015) at WSU
Mike Kaiser re-joined the WSU football staff in the summer of 2019 after spending the 2018 campaign as a volunteer quality control linebackers coach at the University of Minnesota.

In his first year back in Detroit, Kaiser helped mentor eight defensive linemen that earned GLIAC All-Academic recognition.  In addition, two of his pupils were selected to All-GLIAC teams as Jalen Lewis was voted to the All-GLIAC Second Team, and Damani Green was named to the Honorable Mention All-GLIAC squad.

The Wayne State defensive line contingent helped the Warriors to a 7-1 GLIAC record by leading the conference (league games only) in sacks (29) and interceptions returned for a touchdown (4 - one by defensive end Brady Beedon) and ranking third in fewest points allowed per game (21.9).  Nationally, WSU was 18th in sacks (3.0 per game), 21st in third-down defense (30.6% - 44-of-144), and 23rd in red zone defense (69.2%).

Kaiser served two seasons (2016 and 2017) as the defensive line graduate assistant coach at Western Michigan helping the Broncos to a combined 19-7 overall record, including a 12-4 Mid-American Conference mark.

Prior to heading to Kalamazoo, Kaiser worked with the defensive line at Wayne State for two seasons (2014 and 2015).

In 2015, he helped guide one Honorable Mention All-GLIAC recipient (Derrick Rodgers) and three Academic All-GLIAC honorees in Derrick Coleman, Blake Mazur and Alex Medenbach.  The WSU defense finished 44th nationally in first downs defense allowing just 197 throughout the season, while ranking 45th in rushing defense (135.4 yards allowed per game) and 48th in tackles for loss with 7.3 per contest.

Kaiser mentored two 2014 Academic All-GLIAC selections in Blake Mazur and Alex Medenbach along with WSU Defensive Rookie of the Year award recipient Jake Carrizales.  Carrizales was a Second Team All-GLIAC selection, while Justice Akuezue and Sam Sillmon were both named to the All-GLIAC Honorable Mention Team.  Carrizales was third in the GLIAC in both sacks and tackles for loss per game, while Sillmon was among the conference leaders in fumble recoveries.

As a team, WSU led the GLIAC in 2014 and ranked 22nd nationally in sacks (2.91 per game), while ranking eighth in NCAA Division II with 9.3 tackles for loss per game. The Warriors were ranked 38th in D-II in total defense allowing 338.5 yards per game.

The Romeo, Mich. native graduated from Michigan State in 2013 with a degree in interdisciplinary studies.  He formerly was a teaching assistant at Lapeer East High School, while coaching wide receivers and defensive backs at Imlay City High School.  Kaiser coached two Spartan defensive backs to All-League accolades and aided in a record-setting season for one of the team's wide receivers.

He began his college career at Adrian College where he played football for two seasons.  He spent his prep playing days at Orchard Lake St. Mary's where he started at right guard in the 2007 MHSAA Division 3 State Championship game.  The Eaglets lost to East Grand Rapids 46-39 in five overtimes, the longest playoff game in MHSAA history for any round.  Kaiser earned All-League and All-Oakland County honors in 2007.

Â