USD HC leaving

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  • GoJacks2011
    Bachelor of Hareology
    • Sep 2011
    • 1917
    #1

    USD HC leaving

    Seeing some rumblings that USD's head coach is leaving for a DC job at Rutgers. Doesn't sound confirmed but Thamel with ESPN usually is reliable. Not ideal timing for them. Not sure if they have any assistants to move into a HC job either. Maybe Nielsen will come back?

    ​​​​​https://www.app.com/story/sports/col...0&gca-ds=sophi
    Tags: None
    • bigticket1
      Professor of Jackrabbitude
      • Sep 2007
      • 9354
      #2
      That would open up a very interesting 14 day portal window after the new coach is named.

        Comment

        • GoJacks2011
          Bachelor of Hareology
          • Sep 2011
          • 1917
          #3
          Sounds like it’s official. Matt Zithum (OC) will move to HC. Might minimize damage. Still doesn’t seem ideal for USD.

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            • MontanaRabbit
              Associate Professor
              • Feb 2007
              • 5760
              #4
              The portal is closed correct? Is there a chance for players to leave with a coaching change?

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                • GoJacks2011
                  Bachelor of Hareology
                  • Sep 2011
                  • 1917
                  #5
                  Originally posted by MontanaRabbit
                  The portal is closed correct? Is there a chance for players to leave with a coaching change?
                  Portal opens 15 days after a head coach change. I wouldn’t think they’d lose much at this point if only one coach leaves but TBD.

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                    • 98Jackfarmer
                      Bachelor of Hareology
                      • Nov 2017
                      • 1609
                      #6
                      Not funny to the coyote fans now when the shoe is on the other foot.

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                        • bigticket1
                          Professor of Jackrabbitude
                          • Sep 2007
                          • 9354
                          #7
                          Originally posted by GoJacks2011
                          Sounds like it’s official. Matt Zithum (OC) will move to HC. Might minimize damage. Still doesn’t seem ideal for USD.
                          At this time of the year, promoting from within was the logical option. Opening up the hire would leave the program twisting in the wind, and this probably retains most of the players.

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                            • jbjack
                              Senior
                              • Oct 2013
                              • 762
                              #8
                              Who knows if there will be meaningful defections? I think the portal window opens in 5 days and stays open for 15. A player could enter and pick a new team and still finish the semester in Vermilion. Transferring to a new school for this present semester would seem impossible at this point. It's not ideal for the player to bail just now by any means

                              Is there anyone on the USD defense that is a potential B1G contributor? Guys following Johanson would seem like the biggest flight risk given timing but that might be a very shallow pool, if one even exists. I wouldn't lose much sleep if I were a (shudders) JSD fan.

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                                • JackJD
                                  Super Moderator
                                  • Apr 2004
                                  • 12419
                                  #9
                                  ​​​​Saw a report on the internet that Johansen was going to Rutgers to be the Defensive Coordinator.
                                  Sources: Dakota News Now and Wikipedia
                                  Johansen leaves for Rutgers; Matt Vitzthum named 32nd USD head coach
                                  https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2026/02/06/johansen-leaves-rutgers-matt-vitzthum-named-32nd-usd-head-coach/
                                  After just one season as head coach for South Dakota Football, Travis Johansen will depart the program to join Rutgers. Matt Vitzthum is now in charge in Vermillion.


                                  He did a pretty good job at USD...just one year as head coach but six seasons before as D Coordinator (see Wikipedia). Johansen came to USD from little NAIA power Grand View U out of Des Moines, IA.

                                  USD announced today that Matt Vitzhum was the new head coach. Vitzhum has been at USD two season (wide receivers in '24; quarterbacks in '25)..

                                  Prior to Johansen becoming the D Coordinator at USD, he was the DC six seasons at small, but powerful, NAIA Grand View U in Des Moines. He had success with an unusual, less-structured defense (I've forgotten what it was nicknamed and I can't really describe it any better than to say the defensive players were given a lot of independence and were free to roam around looking for someone to hit. I saw an example of that defense and when Johansen moved up to DC at USD, I thought he'll have to change what he had successfully coached at Grand View. The Valley athletes were too big and fast compared to even good NAIA teams. Johanson proved capable of change and quickly adjusted his defensive plan, recruited good athletes and developed a good defense at USD. He's earned a step-up to the B1G. I hope he does well. The new guy at USD? Too early to wish him well.

                                  ​

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