Mike Saint Germain completed his second season and third as the Golden Bears' defensive coordinator in 2021.
Saint German presided over one of NCAA Division II's top defenses in 2021, helping Kutztown to an 11-2 record, PSAC championship and a trip to the DII national quarterfinals.
The Golden Bears' 78.3 rushing yards allowed per game and 15 interceptions were both PSAC bests. KU ranked second in the conference in scoring defense, allowing just 14.6 points per game, and total defense, yielding 266.3 yards per game. Nationally, Kutztown was seventh in rushing defense, 10th in scoring defense, 14th in total defense, 17th in third down conversion defense (29.8%) and 19th in interceptions among DII schools.
Kutztown's 266.3 yards allowed per game were its fewest since 1995 (261.2) and the Bears produced 34 team sacks, tied for fifth most in a season in program history.
In 2019, Saint Germain's first season with the Bears, Kutztown led the PSAC with 13 fumble recoveries, ranked second in interceptions (19) and second in turnover margin (1.08). The team tied a school record with 11 victories, won the PSAC East title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA DII Championship. KU's 19 interceptions were tied for the eighth most in school history and its 29 sacks tied for 10th.
The former All-American at Lafayette College brought 12 years of coaching experience --10 at the collegiate level-- to Jim Clements' staff. Saint Germain joins the Golden Bears following four seasons at Virginia Military Institute, where he most recently coached outside linebackers and served as special teams coordinator.
Saint Germain coached three position groups during his tenure with the Keydets, leading the defensive line in 2015, the outside linebackers in 2016 and 2018 and the inside linebackers in 2017. He was also entrusted with the role of external recruiting coordinator in 2015 and 2016.
Before arriving in Lexington, Virginia, Saint Germain spent the 2014 season as a defensive assistant coach for his alma mater, Lafayette. He was an offensive assistant under current VMI head coach Scott Wachenheim when Wachenheim was the offensive line coach at the University of Virginia in 2012 and 2013, paving the way for the two to reunite in 2015.
Saint Germain, a native of Morris Plains, New Jersey, got his collegiate coaching start at NCAA Division III Franklin & Marshall College from 2009-11. He coached the Diplomats' defensive line and helped the program to consecutive winning seasons and ECAC bowl game appearances in 2009 and 2010.
Saint Germain's first season with F&M was a success. The team finished 8-3 and defeated Wilkes, 29-24, in the ECAC South Atlantic Bowl. Mark Surma earned All-Centennial Second Team honors and the defensive line registered 15 sacks, a nine-sack improvement over the 2008 team.
In 2010 and 2011, Saint Germain was also the Diplomats' video coordinator and shared special teams duties. He coached five All-Centennial selections overall, including CT Marsh, who broke the conference's career sack record.
Saint Germain got his coaching start at the scholastic level, mentoring the offensive and defensive lines and tight ends at his alma mater, Morristown (N.J.) High School, in 2007 and 2008. The 2007 team produced a 9-2 record and advanced to the postseason.
A three-year letterman at Lafayette, Saint Germain broke into the starting lineup as a sophomore 2004, clearing the way as the Leopards amassed over 200 yards per game on the ground. As a junior, he was the only Leopard on the o-line to start all 12 games when Lafayette quarterbacks threw for a league-best 244.3 yards per game and earned All-Patriot League First Team accolades.
Lafayette won the Patriot League championship and advanced to the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs in 2006, Saint Germain's senior year. He once again started all 12 games and repeated as an All-Patriot League First Team pick. The postseason awards continued to roll in for Saint Germain, as he garnered All-America First Team honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and CollegeSportingNews.com, All-America Third Team honors from the Associated Press and Football Gazette and an All-ECAC First Team nod.
Saint Germain was college teammates with current Kutztown offensive coordinator Marcel Quarterman. He graduated from Lafayette in 2007 with a degree in history.
Saint Germain completed his playing career in 2008 with the Austin Wranglers of the Arena Football League's developmental AF2 league.
Updated 12/21/21
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