Kevin Schmidt is on his way to the USHL.
The Iowa Heartlanders, ECHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild and the American Hockey League’s Iowa Wild, announced Friday the team’s assistant coach has accepted a position with the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers.
Former Heartlanders Head Coach Derek Damon accepted the head coaching position in Des Moines last week, and Schmidt will be joining him there. Schmidt was Iowa’s assistant coach in the 2024-25 season and helped the Heartlanders to the best season in team history (36 wins and 83 points).
Iowa qualified for the 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs and took division foe Fort Wayne to 7 games in the Central Division Semifinals.
“Coming to the Heartlanders this season was an amazing first coaching experience and the chance to follow my friend Derek Damon to Des Moines was a great opportunity for me and my family,” Schmidt said. “What the Heartlanders have done from top to bottom in the community, front office and hockey operations is incredible, and this was not an easy decision. I will always consider myself a Heartlander for life, and am excited to continue to follow the team and see how our next coaching staff continues to build hockey in eastern Iowa.”
The 39-year-old Schmidt played 15 professional seasons, mainly overseas in Germany’s DEL and DEL 2.
Before going pro, Schmidt played four seasons at Bowling Green State University, serving as an alternate captain his senior year. In 2008-09, he led the team in assists and tied for third in points, ranking among the top CCHA defensemen. He appeared in more than 100 games during his NCAA career.
The Heartlanders 2025-26 season schedule is out, and the team is planning theme nights and a promotional schedule, with details to be announced this summer.