South Dakota Coyotes football
| South Dakota Coyotes football | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| First season | 1889; 137 years ago | ||
| Athletic director | Jon Schemmel | ||
| Head coach | Matt Vitzthum 1st season, 0–0 (–) | ||
| Location | Vermillion, South Dakota | ||
| Stadium | DakotaDome (capacity: 9,100) | ||
| NCAA division | Division I FCS | ||
| Conference | Missouri Valley | ||
| Colors | Red and white | ||
| All-time record | 587–568–36 (.508) | ||
| Conference championships | |||
| NCC: 1927, 1938, 1939, 1947, 1951, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1978, 2005 MVFC: 2024 | |||
| Rivalries | South Dakota State (rivalry) North Dakota (Sitting Bull Trophy) North Dakota State | ||
| Fight song | Hail, South Dakota! | ||
| Mascot | Charlie Coyote | ||
| Marching band | The Sound of USD | ||
| Website | goyotes.com | ||
The South Dakota Coyotes football team represents the University of South Dakota in college football. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). The Coyotes play their home games at the 9,100-seat DakotaDome near the University's campus in Vermillion, South Dakota.
South Dakota first fielded a football team in 1889, and became one of the charter members of the North Central Conference (NCC) in 1922, where they remained for the next 86 years. During their time in the NCC, the Coyotes won 10 conference titles, qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs four times, and reached the 1986 national championship game, losing to the North Dakota State Bison 27–7. The Coyotes moved up to the NCAA Division I FCS level in 2008, joining the Great West Conference initially, before entering the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2012. Initially struggling in the Valley, the team found their footing under former head coach Bob Nielson, reaching four FCS playoffs from 2017 to 2024. The Coyotes won their first Missouri Valley title and reached their first FCS playoff semifinal appearance in school history in 2024.
Overall, the Coyotes have won eleven conference titles, and have a playoff record of 10–9 (.526).