Mike Kaiser joined the Wildcats staff as the Defensive Line Coach in 2023.
Previously, Kaiser spent two seasons as the Defensive Line Coach and his first year as the Director of Football Operations at Wheeling University.
In his first season, he helped lead the team to a 5-6 record, and led a defensive line that was one of the strongest units in the MEC. They were tied for seventh in sacks last season while sitting fifth in the conference on sack yardage. The unit was a big reason for Wheeling's defensive success that saw the Cardinals allow a record low 21.7 points per game. Brandon Munoz earned All-MEC Honorable Mention Honors under Kaiser’s leadership.
Prior to Wheeling, Kaiser coached at Wayne State University in Detroit. He joined the staff in the summer of 2019 as a defensive coach. 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), 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%).
Mike spent the 2018 campaign as a quality control linebackers coach at the University of Minnesota. While at Minnesota, the squad went 7-6, with two defensive breakthrough games to finish the season, a 37-15 win over in-conference rival Wisconsin and a 34-10 win in the Quick Lane Bowl over Georgia Tech.
Kaiser served two seasons (2016 and 2017) as the defensive line graduate assistant coach at Western Michigan University helping the Broncos to a combined 19-7 overall record, including a 12-4 Mid-American Conference mark. In 2016, Kaiser was an integral part of WMU's MAC Championship defense and Cotton Bowl appearance, capped off with a with 13-1 record.
Prior to heading to Kalamazoo, Kaiser worked with the defensive line at Wayne State for two seasons as a graduate assistant (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.
The Romeo, Michigan native graduated from Michigan State University in 2013 with a Bachelors degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. Kaiser also holds a Masters degree in Sports Administration from Western Michigan University. He formerly was a teaching assistant for the cognitively impaired 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 linebacker 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 longest playoff game in MHSAA history for any round. Kaiser earned All-League and All Oakland County honors in 2007.
Kaiser married Melissa Ludke in July of 2022.
