VERMILLION, SD (GoYotes.com) — Following the program’s most successful season in the Division I FCS era, University of South Dakota head football coach Bob Nielson is stepping down with plans to retire after coaching 32 seasons as a collegiate head coach, including the last nine seasons at South Dakota.
“Coaching football is all I have known for the past 42 years and while coaching has been a true blessing it has also been all-encompassing,” commented Nielson. “This decision will allow me to focus on other priorities in my life and while I will deeply miss walking that sideline in the Dome, I look forward to the opportunities ahead.”
“I want to thank Coach Nielson for his incredible nine years of leadership of our Coyote Football program. Bob has built USD into a championship program that is positioned for success and able to withstand the ongoing challenges in the ever-changing landscape of Division I athletics,” said Schemmel. “While the thought of Coyote football without Bob and his shirt and tie on the sideline is hard to imagine, I respect his decision to retire at this time and his legacy is cemented at USD. I am so excited for Bob to be able to spend more time with Terri, their children, and grandchildren!”
Known for building programs, Nielson took the reins of the USD program ahead of the 2016 season. Nielson’s career is a storied one being a two-time NCAA Division II national champion (Minnesota Duluth, 2008 & 2010), three-time national coach of the year, and three-time Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) Coach of the Year honors (Western Illinois, 2015; South Dakota, 2023 & 2024).Nielson chaired the NCAA football rules committee from 2015 to 2017, and prior to the 2024 season, he was named to the FCS Oversight Committee.
“Bob Nielson has been an outstanding leader for our football program. His commitment to the student-athletes and the university community is unwavering. Bob came to USD with a goal of making our football program a consistent national contender in FCS football,” commented University of South Dakota President,Sheila Gestring. “He has done that and under his leadership, the Coyotes competed in the playoffs three of the past four seasons, each time making a deeper run. In 2024, the Coyotes earned a share of the MVFC title, a first for the program. Bob was named the MVFC Coach of the Year three times, two of which at USD. Bob built an outstanding football program, laid the foundation for which to build on, and is leaving our program better than he found it. We wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.”
In 2018, Coach Nielson surpassed the career milestone of 200 wins as a head coach with the 31-24 win over Southern Illinois. He needed less than 300 games to accomplish the feat, becoming the 91st coach in college football to achieve 200 wins.
Nielson posted a 53-48 record leading the South Dakota football program, which sits him fourth all-time in program history. He led the Coyotes to all four of their FCS Playoff appearances, holding a 4-4 record in playoff games with a 3-2 record in playoff games inside the DakotaDome. He cemented his legacy as one of the best coaches in program history, taking the program to new heights at the Division I level with taking the Coyotes to the quarterfinals in 2023 and a step further with a semifinal appearance in 2024.
This past season in 2024 will go down in the record books as one of the best Coyote teams in program history. Nielson led USD to their first-ever MVFC title after a 7-1 campaign and a win over then No. 1-ranked North Dakota State to conclude the regular season. Leading the program to the FCS semifinal also came with an 11-3 overall record, tying the most wins in a single season for South Dakota with the 1986 team that made an appearance in the Division II national title game.
Furthermore, the first-ever win over North Dakota in the Alerus Center – and first win over UND in Grand Forks since 1985 – on November 16, 2024, also proved to be Nielson’s 50th win leading the South Dakota football program.
In the 2023 and 2024 seasons, Nielson was an impressive 14-2 inside the Dome. He led the Coyotes to a perfect 8-0 record at home, marking the first season being undefeated at home since 2011.
The three-time national coach of the year amassed an 239-128-1 record in 32 seasons, leading 14 teams to national playoff appearances.The 239 wins ranks him 42nd all-time amongst college football coaches across all levels.On top of his two national titles at the Division II level, Nielson won a total of nine conference titles in his career, picking up titles at all three NCAA Divisions (Wartburg & UW-Eau Claire, DIII; Minnesota Duluth, DII, and South Dakota DI).
During his years at Minnesota Duluth, he also served as the Athletic Director for the Bulldogs from 2004 to 2012. During his time as AD, Nielson’s athletic department won a total of five NCAA national titles.
“I want to thank Coyote Nation for all the support they have shown Terri and I over the past decade and for the relationships and friendships that we have made and will forever cherish,” concluded Nielson.
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VERMILLION, SD (GoYotes.com) — University of South Dakota Director of Athletics Jon Schemmel has announced on Thursday, January 16th that Travis Johansen has been named the 31st head coach of the South Dakota football program, following six seasons as the program’s defensive coordinator.
“First and foremost, congratulations to Coach Nielson on a remarkable career. One of the all-time winners, I couldn’t be more appreciative of the opportunity I had to work alongside him over the last six seasons,” said Johansen. “Coach’s impact on thousands of players and coaches has been transformative across college football. We will all chase the standard Coach Nielson set for Coyote Football.”
Johansen, a native of Blaine, Minnesota, joined the USD football program in February 2019 and has taken the Coyote defensive unit to new heights. He has coached a pair of Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) Defensive Players of the Year in back-to-back seasons (Brock Mogensen, 2023; Mi’Quise Grace, 2024) and a pair of Buck Buchannan Award Finalists (Mogensen, 2023; Grace, 2024).
“Travis has excelled at every step in his career, and I am confident Travis is ready to lead this program. Internal succession planning was at the top of my list when I arrived here and between my own experiences and interactions with Coach Nielson, it quickly became apparent Travis was that person and is ready to lead Coyote Football,” said Schemmel. “I am thrilled to get to work with Travis on continuing to build a championship program and am excited that his wife, Natalie, and his three children, Laila, Layne, and Tate will be part of the Coyote and Vermillion families for years to come.”
“Being the next head football coach at The University of South Dakota is an honor. Thank you to President Gestring, Jon Schemmel, and all our administration for entrusting me to continue the success we’ve built,” commented Johansen. “Their leadership and vision is uncommon. When I arrived in 2019 aspirations were high. Over the past six seasons this program has turned those aspirations into expectations.”
A proven leader of defenses in his three stops as Defensive Coordinator at South Dakota (2019-pres.), Grand View (2013-18), and Concordia, St. Paul (2011-12).
“Travis Johansen has demonstrated exceptional coaching skills and a deep understanding of our program’s values. We are confident he will continue building on the strong foundation laid by Coach Nielson and lead our team to new heights,” said University of South Dakota President,Sheila Gestring. “Coach Johansen has served as the Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator since 2019, where he made significant contributions to the team’s success, including coaching multiple MVFC Defensive Players of the Year, Buck Buchanan Award Finalists, and All-Americans.”
Leading defensive units, Johansen has seen 16 athletes go to the National Football League (NFL) with 10 from his time in Vermillion, including 2023 seventh round draft pick Myles Harden of the Cleveland Brown.
Additionally, he’s coached seven All-Americans (AFCA, STATS Perform, Phil Steele, AP) and seven First Team All-MVFC performers at South Dakota. As of December 2024, Johansen has seen 10 athletes on the defensive side of the ball go pro either drafted, received camp invites, or signed as an undrafted free agent in the NFL.
“Although our 2024 season was one to remember, everyone would agree, Coyote Football has our sights set on more,” concluded Johansen. “We will work tirelessly to bring a National Championship to Vermillion and call on all of Coyote Nation’s support to accomplish that goal. Get your season tickets now, we’ll be back in the dome before we know it. Fight South Dakota!”
The 2024 season saw Johansen lead a unit that sat top-10 in scoring defense and top-20 in rushing defense as the Coyotes put together one of the best seasons in school history with an 11-3 (7-1 MVFC) record with a share of the MVFC title, the first in program history.
The MVFC honors saw seven All-Conference honorees, including three First Team All-MVFC performers in Mi’Quise Grace, Nick Gaes, and Dennis Shorter. The defensive front seven sat fourth in the Valley with 30 sacks as a team with Gaes and Grace sitting No. 1 and No. 2 in total sacks.
The 2023 campaign saw the Coyotes take a giant leap forward in the FCS ranks under Johansen. South Dakota finished No. 4 in the FCS rankings (STATS Perform and AFCA) and picked up the program’s first 10-win season in the Division I era. The Yote defense was instrumental in the team’s overall success, being ranked in the top-25 in the FCS in three defensive categories: scoring defense (No. 8), passing defense (No. 18), and total defense (No. 25).
Prior to his arrival in Vermillion, he served as the Defensive Coordinator at Grand View University (Iowa) at the NAIA level where he and the Vikings posted a 61-11 record with five Heart of America Athletic Conference championships, six NAIA Playoff appearances, and the 2013 national title following a 14-0 campaign. While at Grand View, Johannsen was named the Heart of America Assistant Coach of the Year finalist in his final two seasons and was a national coordinator of the year finalist in the 2015 season.
He began his coaching career at his alma mater, Concordia, St. Paul (Minn.) where he spent seven seasons in various positions. He eventually climbed to the Defensive Coordinator position for his final two seasons (2011-12) where he coordinated the Golden Bear defensive unit and coached the secondary.
He was a four-year starter at Concordia, St. Paul (Minn.) at linebacker from 2002-05 who made 40 consecutive starts on the defensive side of the ball in his career. The two-time All-NSIC performer earned First Team All-Conference honors his senior season in 2005, being a team captain and the team’s defensive MVP.
His CSP teams went 33-13 in his four seasons, including a 24-7 mark in NSIC play. He finished his collegiate career with 221 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, and five sacks in a dual role as a safety and linebacker in his Golden Bear career.
In 2021, Johansen was named to the Concordia University Hall of Fame after his playing career and his stint on staff at CSP from 2006-12. He was a part of 65 of Concordia’s 102 total wins at the NCAA Division II level, including a member of both NSIC Championship teams and all three Mineral Water Bowl appearances, as both an athlete and a coach.
He graduated from Concordia University, St. Paul in 2006 with a degree in Kinesiology and Sport Science. Johansen and his wife, Natalie, have two daughters, Laila and Layne, and a son, Tate.
He takes over the reins of the Coyote football program following the announcement of Bob Nielson’s retirement after the program’s first NCAA FCS semifinal appearance this season.
Johansen will be formally introduced as head coach at South Dakota with a press conference tomorrow, January 17, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. in the DomeClub.
JOHANSEN’S PATH TO HEAD COACH (Seasons)
Defensive Assistant, Concordia, St. Paul (2006-10)
Defensive Coordinator, Concordia, St. Paul (2011-12)
Defensive Coordinator/Secondary Coach, Grand View (2013-18)
Defensive Coordinator, South Dakota (2019-pres.)
Associate Head Coach, South Dakota (2022-pres.)