South Dakota Coyotes head coach Travis Johansen is leaving to take the defensive coordinator position with Rutgers. Johansen spent one season as head coach at South Dakota, finishing 10-5 overall and reaching the FCS Quarterfinals in 2025.
Johansen was named USD’s head coach in January 2025, following the retirement of Bob Nielson. Nielson spent nearly a decade as the team’s head coach, building the program into a contender in the MVFC. Johansen was South Dakota’s defensive coordinator from 2019 through 2024 before taking over the head coaching position.
Heading into the 2025 season, USD was ranked in the top five, but lost the first two games on the road at Iowa State and Lamar. The team rebounded to win the next two games, but was blown out at North Dakota State 51-13. USD would win the next three games to reach 5-3 overall, before another stumble against a ranked team, this time against Illinois State. After the loss to ISU, South Dakota won three straight games against ranked opponents to end the regular season. The defeated North Dakota and South Dakota State at home, and won the regular season finale in thrilling fashion over Southern Illinois 53-51 in five overtimes.
South Dakota was selected for the FCS Playoffs as the 11th seed and opened the playoffs with a 38-17 win over Drake. It was the second time the two teams met, with USD winning the September 20 matchup 42-21. USD crushed 7th-seeded Mercer in the second round 47-0 on the road, but lost the quarterfinals matchup to 3rd-seeded Montana 52-22.
Matt Vitzthum will succeed Johansen. In 2025, Vitzthum was the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. In 2024, he was the wide receivers coach in his first season on the USD coaching staff.
Photo Credit to the University of South Dakota Athletics
