USD football coach Johansen steps down, Vitzthum tabbed as replacement

South Dakota has appointed Matt Vitzthum as the new head football coach for the 2026 season. This follows the departure of Travis Johansen, who has been linked to the defensive coordinator position at Rutgers, although no formal announcement has been made regarding his new role. Johansen led the Coyotes to the FCS quarterfinals and achieved a 10-5 record in his sole year as head coach in 2025. Prior to his head coaching role, Johansen served as the defensive coordinator, helping the team rank in the top five defensively in 2024.

Vitzthum, who joined South Dakota's coaching staff in 2024, was the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach last season. Under his guidance, the team's offense produced two All-Americans: first-team LJ Phillips Jr. and second-team Larenzo Fenner. Before joining South Dakota, Vitzthum spent a decade at Grand Valley State as a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, contributing to