South Dakota Coyotes football

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South Dakota Coyotes football
2025 South Dakota Coyotes football team
First season1889; 136 years ago
Athletic directorJon Schemmel
Head coachTravis Johansen
1st season, 0–0 (–)
StadiumDakotaDome
(capacity: 9,100)
LocationVermillion, South Dakota
NCAA divisionDivision I FCS
ConferenceMissouri Valley
Past conferencesNCC (1922–2007), Great West (2008–2011)
All-time record524–500–36 (.511)
National finalist1
(Div. II): 1985
Playoff appearances8
(Div. II): 1973, 1985, 1986, 2006
(Div. I FCS): 2017, 2021, 2023, 2024
Playoff recordDiv. II: 4–4 (.500)
Div. I FCS: 4–4 (.500)
Conference titles
  • NCC (10)
    1927, 1938, 1939, 1947, 1951, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1978, 2005
  • MVFC (1)
    2024
RivalriesSouth Dakota State (rivalry)
North Dakota (Sitting Bull Trophy)
North Dakota State
ColorsRed and white[1]
   
Fight songHail, South Dakota!
MascotCharlie Coyote
Marching bandThe Sound of USD
Websitegoyotes.com

The South Dakota Coyotes football team represents the University of South Dakota in college football. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). The Coyotes play their home games at the 9,100-seat DakotaDome near the University's campus in Vermillion, South Dakota.

South Dakota first fielded a football team in 1889, and became one of the charter members of the North Central Conference (NCC) in 1922, where they remained for the next 86 years. During their time in the NCC, the Coyotes won 10 conference titles, qualified for the Division II playoffs four times, and reached the 1986 National Championship game, losing to the North Dakota State Bison 27-7. The Coyotes moved up to the Division I FCS level in 2008, joining the Great West Conference initially, before entering the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2012. Initially struggling in the Valley, the team found their footing under head coach Bob Nielson, reaching four FCS playoffs from 2017 to 2024. The Coyotes won their first Missouri Valley title and reached their first FCS semifinal in school history in 2024.

Overall, the Coyotes have won 11 conference titles, and have a playoff record of 8-8 (.500).

History

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Classifications

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  • 1952–1972: NCAA College Division
  • 1973–2007: NCAA Division II
  • 2008–present: NCAA Division I FCS

Conference memberships

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Rivalries

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South Dakota State

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Main article: South Dakota–South Dakota State football rivalry

The Coyotes' main rivals are the South Dakota State Jackrabbits. The two schools have played each other since 1889, with the Jackrabbits currently holding the all-time series 58-52-7.

The series has been played yearly except for a pause between 2003 and 2012, when the Jackrabbits moved their athletic programs from Division II to Division I in 2004. The rivalry resumed in 2012 after the Coyotes joined the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The series is one of the oldest rivalries in college football, and the oldest between two public institutions at the FCS level.

North Dakota

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Main article: Sitting Bull Trophy

The Coyotes historically shared a rivalry with the North Dakota Fighting Hawks, first meeting in 1903. The Fighting Hawks currently hold the all-time series 63-33-5. The rivalry was interrupted in 2011 after the two schools moved to separate conferences (the Big Sky Conference for North Dakota and the Missouri Valley Football Conference for South Dakota), but the series was renewed when the Fighting Hawks joined the Missouri Valley in 2021.

Both teams formerly fought for the Sitting Bull Trophy (an oak bust of Sitting Bull), but it was retired in 2000 amid an ongoing NCAA controversy over the use of Native American names and symbols by its member institutions.[2]

Championships

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Conference championships

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The Coyotes have won 11 conference championships.

Year Conference Coach Overall record Conference record
1927† North Central Conference Vincent E. Montgomery 7–2 5–0
1938 Harry Gamage 7–1 5–0
1939† 4–5 4–1
1947† 7–2 4–0
1951 7–1 6–0
1972† Joe Salem 9–1 6–1
1973† 8–3 6–1
1974† 8–3 5–2
1978 Beanie Cooper 7–4 5–0–1^
2005† Ed Meierkort 9–2 4–2
2024† Missouri Valley Football Conference Bob Nielson 11–3 7–1

† Co-champions

^ South Dakota and Nebraska–Omaha split games in 1978, which counted as a tie in the NCC standings.[3]

Playoff appearances

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NCAA Division II

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The Coyotes appeared in the Division II playoffs four times. Their record was 4–4.

Year Round Opponent Result
1973 Quarterfinals Boise State L 10–53
1985 Quarterfinals
Semifinals 		Central State (OH)
North Dakota State 		W 13–10 2OT
L 7–16
1986 Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship 		UC Davis
Troy State
North Dakota State 		W 26–23
W 42–28
L 7–27
2006 First Round
Second Round 		Northwood
Grand Valley State 		W 31–28
L 17–35

NCAA Division I-AA/FCS

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The Coyotes have appeared in the FCS playoffs four times, with a combined record of 4–4.

Year Round Opponent Result
2017 First Round
Second Round		 Nicholls State
Sam Houston State		 W 38–31
L 42–54
2021 First Round Southern Illinois L 10–22
2023 Second Round
Quarterfinals		 Sacramento State
North Dakota State		 W 34–24
L 17–45
2024 Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals		 Tarleton State
UC Davis
Montana State		 W 42–31
W 35–21
L 17–31

Head coaching history

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The Coyotes have had 27 head coaches throughout the program's history. It is not known who coached the team between 1889–1900. South Dakota did not field teams in 1943 and 1944 due to World War II.

# Coach Years active Record Conference titles
1 Bert H. Morrison (manager) 1898–1899 5–2–1 No affiliation
2 Ralph Norton 1901 6–1–1 No affiliation
3 Arthur H. Whittemore 1902–1909, 1920-1921 37–21–6 No affiliation
4 Joseph Pipal 1910 5–2–0 No affiliation
5 James Henderson 1911–1913 15–5–0 No affiliation
6 Ion Cortright 1914-1915 9–4–3 No affiliation
7 Blaine McKusick 1916–1917 3–8–2 No affiliation
8 John W. Stewart 1918–1919 3–8–0 No affiliation
9 Stub Allison 1922–1926 20–19–3
10 Vincent E. Montgomery 1927-1930 15–16–3 1927
11 Stanley G. Backman 1931-1933 11–16–1
12 Harry Gamage 1934-1941, 1946-1955 82–67–7 1938, 1939, 1947, 1951
13 Cletus Clinker 1942 5–3–0
14 Grant Heckenlively 1945 0–4–0
15 Ralph Stewart 1956-1961 19–33–2
16 Bob Burns 1962 1–9–0
17 Marv Rist 1963-1965 6–21–0
18 Joe Salem 1966–1974 51–39–2 1972, 1973, 1974
19 Beanie Cooper 1975-1978 18–24–1 1978
20 Dave Triplett 1979–1988 70–45–0
21 John Fritsch 1989-1991 24–6–0 1964, 1965
22 Dennis Creehan 1992-1996 28-26-0
23 Ron Rankin 1997–1998 8-14
24 John Austin 1999-2003 22-32
25 Ed Meierkort 2004-2011 54-35 2005
26 Joe Glenn 2012-2015 12-34
27 Bob Nielson 2016-2024 53-48 2024
28 Travis Johansen 2025-present 0-0

Facilities

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Main article: DakotaDome
The DakotaDome.

The Coyotes have played in the DakotaDome since it opened in 1979. Seating 9,100 spectators, the Dome has been home to several Coyote sports teams over its 49 year history; alongside football, the DakotaDome formerly hosted Coyote basketball, volleyball, and swimming & diving. In addition to Coyote football, the Dome also hosts South Dakota's high school state football championships each November.

The DakotaDome has been renovated several times over the building's lifespan, most recently from 2019 to 2021 in a $26 million project that rebuilt the west side of the Dome. Improvements included permanent seating on the west side, new loge boxes and suites, a new locker room covering more than 6,000 square feet with 110 new lockers, new offices and equipment space, and a new concourse.[4] As of 2025, plans are in place to renovate the west side of the Dome.

Before the DakotaDome, the Coyotes played on-campus at Inman Field from 1924 to 1978. The stadium seated 10,000 spectators and was located at the current site of the Knudson School of Law and Beacom Hall.[5]

Notable former players

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18 former Coyotes have been selected in the NFL draft. The most recent Coyote selected was Myles Harden in the 2024 NFL draft, who was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the 7th round.

Other notable alumni include:

Record against FBS opposition

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The Coyotes have played 16 times against teams from the FBS since moving up to Division I FCS in 2008; they are 2-14 overall.

Season Opponent Conference Result
2010 UCF Conference USA L 7-38
2010 Minnesota Big Ten W 41-38
2011 Air Force Mountain West L 20-37
2011 Wisconsin Big Ten L 10-59
2012 Northwestern Big Ten L 7-38
2013 Kansas Big 12 L 14-31
2014 No. 3 Oregon Pac-12 L 13-62
2015 Kansas State Big 12 L 0-34
2016 New Mexico Mountain West L 21-48
2017 Bowling Green MAC W 35-27
2018 Kansas State Big 12 L 24-27
2019 No. 4 Oklahoma Big 12 L 14-70
2021 Kansas Big 12 L 14-17
2022 Kansas State Big 12 L 0-34
2023 Missouri SEC L 10-35
2024 Wisconsin Big Ten L 13-27
2025 Iowa State Big 12 TBA

Future non-conference opponents

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Announced schedules as of January 7, 2025.[6]

2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
at Iowa State at Northern Colorado at Kansas State at McNeese Idaho at Iowa State
at Lamar Eastern Washington McNeese Portland State
Northern Colorado at Boise State at Eastern Washington at Idaho
Drake

References

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  1. ^ University of South Dakota Graphic Standards and Editorial Guide. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  2. ^ "Sitting Bull Trophy will be retired; North Dakota, South Dakota go to battle today in Grand Rapids". Star Tribune. September 16, 2000. Archived from the original on March 29, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  3. ^ "2023 Media Supplement (PDF)" (PDF). University of South Dakota Athletics. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  4. ^ "The DakotaDome - Facilities".
  5. ^ "USD Campus and Historic Buildings Walking Tour" (PDF).
  6. ^ "South Dakota Coyotes Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
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