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 NCAA 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 NCAA 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 former 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 playoff semifinal appearance in school history in 2024.

Overall, the Coyotes have won eleven conference titles, and have a playoff record of 10–9 ().

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

Conference memberships 1889–1921, 1945: Independent 1922–1942, 1946–2007: North Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference 2008–2011: Great West Football Conference 2012–present: Missouri Valley Football Conference

Rivalries

South Dakota State

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 58–53–7.

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

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 64–34–5. 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.

Championships

Conference championships The Coyotes have won eleven conference championships, three outright and eight shared. 1927†North Central ConferenceVincent E. Montgomery7–25–01938Harry Gamage7–15–01939†4–54–11947†7–24–019517–16–01972†Joe Salem9–16–11973†8–36–11974†8–35–21978Beanie Cooper7–45–0–1^2005†Ed Meierkort9–24–22024†Missouri Valley Football ConferenceBob Nielson11–37–1 † Co-champions

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

Playoff appearances NCAA Division II The Coyotes have made four appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs, with a combined record of 4–4.

1973 Quarterfinals Boise State L 10–53 1985 QuarterfinalsSemifinals Central State (OH)North Dakota State W 13–10 2OTL 7–16 1986 QuarterfinalsSemifinalsNational Championship UC DavisTroy StateNorth Dakota State W 26–23W 42–28L 7–27 2006 First RoundSecond Round NorthwoodGrand Valley State W 31–28L 17–35

NCAA Division I-AA/FCS The Coyotes have made five appearances in the Division I-AA/FCS playoffs, with an combined record of 6–5.

2017 First RoundSecond Round Nicholls StateSam Houston State W 38–31L 42–54 2021 First Round Southern Illinois L 10–22 2023 Second RoundQuarterfinals Sacramento StateNorth Dakota State W 34–24L 17–45 2024 Second RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinals Tarleton StateUC DavisMontana State W 42–31W 35–21L 17–31 2025 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinals DrakeMercerMontana W 38–17W 47–0L 22–52

Head coaching history 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.

1 Bert H. Morrison (manager) 1898–1899 5–2–1 No affiliation2 Ralph Norton 1901 6–1–1 No affiliation3 Arthur H. Whittemore 1902–1909, 1920–1921 37–21–6 No affiliation4 Joseph Pipal 1910 5–2 No affiliation5 James Henderson 1911–1913 15–5 No affiliation6 Ion Cortright 1914–1915 9–4–3 No affiliation7 Blaine McKusick 1916–1917 3–8–2 No affiliation8 John W. Stewart 1918–1919 3–8 No affiliation9 Stub Allison 1922–1926 20–19–3 10 Vincent E. Montgomery 1927–1930 15–16–3 192711 Stanley G. Backman 1931–1933 11–16–1 12 Harry Gamage 1934–1941, 1946–1955 82–67–7 1938, 1939, 1947, 195113 Cletus Clinker 1942 5–3 14 Grant Heckenlively 1945 0–4 15 Ralph Stewart 1956–1961 19–33–2 16 Bob Burns 1962 1–9 17 Marv Rist 1963–1965 6–21 18 Joe Salem 1966–1974 51–39–2 1972, 1973, 197419 Beanie Cooper 1975–1978 18–24–1 197820 Dave Triplett 1979–1988 70–45 21 John Fritsch 1989–1991 24–6 1964, 1965 22 Dennis Creehan 1992–1996 28–26 23 Ron Rankin 1997–1998 8–14 24 John Austin 1999–2003 22-32 25 Ed Meierkort 2004–2011 54–35 200526 Joe Glenn 2012–2015 12–34 27 Bob Nielson 2016–2024 53–48 202428 Travis Johansen 2025 10–5 29 Matt Vitzthum 2026–present 0–0

Facilities

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. 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.

Notable former players Eighteen 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: OT Tom Compton (2008–2011) - Selected in the 6th round of the 2012 NFL draft. QB Chris Streveler (2016–2017) - Grey Cup champion with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2019), played in the NFL for the Arizona Cardinals from 2020–2021, and for the New York Jets in 2022. LB Jack Cochrane (2017–2021) - Two-time Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs (LVII, LVIII). RB Stefan Logan (2003–2006) - All-time leader in rushing yards for South Dakota, played as a punt returner for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Lions. DE Ordell Braase (1951–1953) - Three-time NFL champion with the Baltimore Colts (1958, 1959, 1968). LB Matt Chatham (1994–1998) - Three-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX). LB Tyler Starr (2011–2013) - Selected in the 7th round of the 2014 NFL draft. DE Kameron Cline (2016–2019) - Played for the Indianapolis Colts and the Buffalo Bills. P Filip Filipovic (1999–2002) - Played for the Dallas Cowboys. RB Jamel White (1996–1999) - Played for the Cleveland Browns, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Baltimore Ravens as a punt returner and running back. LB Brock Mogensen (2018–2023) - MVFC Defensive Player of the Year in 2023, played for the Dallas Cowboys. RB Travis Theis (2019–2024) - Plays for the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL.

Record against FBS opposition The Coyotes have played sixteen times against teams from NCAA Division I FBS since moving up to NCAA Division I FCS in 2008; they are 2–16 overall.

2010 UCF Conference USA L 7–38 Minnesota Big Ten W 41–382011 Air Force Mountain West L 20–37 Wisconsin Big Ten L 10–592012 Northwestern Big Ten L 7–382013 Kansas Big 12 L 14–312014 No. 3 Oregon Pac-12 L 13–622015 Kansas State Big 12 L 0–342016 New Mexico Mountain West L 21–482017 Bowling Green MAC W 35–272018 Kansas State Big 12 L 24–272019 No. 4 Oklahoma Big 12 L 14–702021 Kansas Big 12 L 14–172022 Kansas State Big 12 L 0–342023 Missouri SEC L 10–352024 Wisconsin Big Ten L 13–272025 No. 22 Iowa State Big 12 L 7–552026 Boise State Pac-12 L 24–38

Future non-conference opponents Announced schedules as of July 16, 2026.

Central Connecticut Drake at McNeese Drake at Iowa State at Northern Colorado at Kansas State Idaho Portland State Eastern Washington at Eastern Washington at Idaho at Boise State

References

External links