University of Jamestown athletic director Hieb leaving for South Dakota State role

Austin Hieb’s departure to South Dakota State University leaves the University of Jamestown with a significant transition at a department that has become one of the city’s most visible touchpoints. Hieb accepted the deputy athletic director job in Brookings on May 28, ending a four-year run in Jamestown that coincided with some of the biggest shifts in Jimmie athletics.

Hieb joined the University of Jamestown in March 2022 and helped steer the school through its move from NAIA competition into NCAA Division II and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The university said that period included nine conference titles and the 2022 NAIA women’s volleyball national championship, along with an accelerated NCAA Division II transition that was completed in two years instead of the usual three.

That momentum made Hieb a central figure not just inside the athletic department, but across campus. University officials said he served on the Jamestown President’s Cabinet, strengthened ties with alumni and supporters, and helped guide facility upgrades. For a university that shapes Jamestown’s profile well beyond Stutsman County, his exit leaves open immediate questions about who will steady recruiting, fundraising, compliance and game-day operations while those projects continue.

The timing adds to the significance. The University of Jamestown publicly announced its acceptance as a full-time NSIC member on Nov. 21, 2023, with official membership set for July 1, 2025, pending NCAA Division II acceptance. Hieb was still representing Jimmie athletics earlier this month, including during a May 11 wrestling coaching announcement, underscoring how quickly the change arrived for staff, athletes and supporters.

South Dakota State said Hieb, an Aberdeen native, is returning to his home state after four years as Jamestown’s athletic director. In his new role, he will work closely with SDSU’s external relations team, help enhance the Jackrabbits’ profile, facilitate day-to-day department operations and manage sport supervision duties. SDSU athletic director Justin Sell said Hieb’s familiarity with Jackrabbit Athletics and his track record made him an asset to the department.

Hieb’s career path has kept him rooted in South Dakota athletics. Before Jamestown, he served as associate athletic director of external operations at Northern State University in Aberdeen, overseeing the Wolves Club, event ticketing and championship funds. He is a Dakota Wesleyan University graduate and earned his law degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law. Prairie Business Magazine named him to its 2025 40 Under 40 list, and he and his wife, Nicole, have one son, Opie.

For Jamestown, the move is less a disruption than a test of continuity. The department that grew under Hieb now has to keep its footing while preserving the recruiting, alumni ties and campus visibility that became part of his legacy in the city.