Matt Vitzthum Named 32nd South Dakota Head Coach After Johansen Exit

University of South Dakota athletic director Jon Schemmel announced Friday that Matt Vitzthum will take over as the Coyotes' 32nd head football coach, an internal promotion aimed at preserving the offensive continuity that fueled back-to-back deep playoff runs. The hire follows the departure of Travis Johansen, who left after one season as head coach and seven seasons on the USD staff.

Johansen went 10-5 in 2025 and guided South Dakota to the FCS quarterfinals in his lone season at the helm. Multiple outlets reported Johansen has taken the defensive coordinator position at Rutgers, while the Argus Leader noted he has been connected to the Rutgers opening by ESPN's Pete Thamel and that no formal announcement had been made at the time of its reporting. USD moved quickly to fill the vacancy with a coach already steeped in the program's recent success.

Vitzthum completed his second season on the USD staff in 2025. He joined the Coyotes ahead of the 2024 season as wide receivers coach, was elevated to co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in December 2024, and helped orchestrate an offense that finished 10-5 in 2025 after a 2024 semifinal run in the FCS Playoffs. As co-offensive coordinator he shared play-calling duties with Tim Morrison and worked directly with quarterback Aidan Bouman.

“I am thrilled to have Matt be the next leader of our Coyote football program,” Schemmel said. “He is a proven leader, a player's coach, and has been a critical part of our growth and success the last couple of years!” That continuity will be key as South Dakota seeks to retain momentum from consecutive postseason berths and the offensive core that produced them.

On-field credentials under Vitzthum’s watch are clear. Bouman passed for more than 2,000 yards in 2025 for the third straight season and posted a career-best 26 touchdown passes. The 2025 offense featured First Team All-American running back L.J. Phillips Jr. and Second Team All-American wideout Larenzo Fenner. In 2024 Vitzthum coached MVFC All-Newcomer Quaron Adams, who led the Valley with 30.2 yards per catch, and he worked day-to-day with Carter Bell, the program’s all-time receptions and receiving yards leader.

Vitzthum’s résumé extends beyond Vermillion. He spent a decade at Grand Valley State as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, where his teams won five Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles and made seven Division II playoff appearances. USD’s choice to promote from within signals an emphasis on player development and scheme continuity that should help during recruiting cycles and spring practice.

For Coyote fans, the immediate questions are staffing and retention: will Tim Morrison remain as offensive coordinator, and can the program keep the core that delivered two deep playoff runs? Vitzthum steps into a program with established stars and recent national relevance, and his first visible tests will be spring ball, staff announcements, and how well he translates coordinator success into the broader responsibilities of a head coach. The move preserves the culture that produced back-to-back postseason runs and sets a high bar for sustaining South Dakota’s climb in the MVFC.