USD Football Coach Johansen Steps Down, Vitzthum Named Replacement

South Dakota Coyotes make coaching change after successful 2025 season

Feb. 6, 2026 at 5:39pm

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South Dakota football head coach Travis Johansen is leaving the program, and co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Matt Vitzthum has been selected as his replacement. Johansen led the Coyotes to the FCS quarterfinals in his only season as head coach in 2025 after previously serving as defensive coordinator and associate head coach. Vitzthum has been with the program for two seasons, helping oversee an offense that featured two All-American players.

Why it matters

The Coyotes are making a significant coaching change after a successful 2025 season, as they look to build on their recent momentum and continue competing at a high level in the FCS. Vitzthum's promotion from within the program suggests the athletic department believes he is the right person to lead the team going forward.

The details

Johansen is reportedly connected to a defensive coordinator opening at Rutgers, but no formal announcement has been made about his next job. Vitzthum joined the South Dakota staff in 2024 as a wide receivers coach under former head coach Bob Nielson, and was promoted to co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the 2025 season.

  • On February 6, 2026, the South Dakota athletic department announced Johansen's departure and Vitzthum's hiring as the new head coach.

The players

Travis Johansen

The former head coach of the South Dakota Coyotes football team, who led the team to the FCS quarterfinals in 2025 before announcing his departure from the program.

Matt Vitzthum

The new head coach of the South Dakota Coyotes football team, who was previously the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the program.

Bob Nielson

The former head coach of the South Dakota Coyotes football team, under whom Vitzthum served as a wide receivers coach in 2024.

LJ Phillips Jr.

A first-team All-American player who was part of the South Dakota offense that Vitzthum helped oversee in 2025.

Larenzo Fenner

A second-team All-American player who was part of the South Dakota offense that Vitzthum helped oversee in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“Johansen has been connected to the defensive coordinator opening at Rutgers, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel, but no formal announcement has been made about his next job.”

— Pete Thamel, ESPN Reporter

What’s next

The Coyotes will look to build on their successful 2025 season under new head coach Matt Vitzthum, who will aim to continue the program's recent momentum and compete at a high level in the FCS.

The takeaway

The coaching change at South Dakota represents an opportunity for the program to build on its recent success, with Vitzthum's promotion from within the staff suggesting the athletic department believes he is the right person to lead the team going forward.