Q&A: Athletic Director David Herbster
Grant Bosiacki: First, how excited are you to take over as the official athletic director for USD?
David Herbster: It’s one of the greatest honors of my career, to be able to work behind the scenes for six years and now have this opportunity. I couldn’t be more optimistic and more excited for the future.
GB: Where are Coyote athletics heading?
DH: We’ve gone through the (D-I) transition. It’s cliché to say we’re on to bigger and better things, but we are. Within three years, I see us in the NCAA Tournament. We understand the landscape and the bar is going to be raised higher and higher every year.
GB: What is your catch phrase that you want the incoming students to have about USD sports?
DH: Be loud, be proud. I want to count on the incoming fans and want them to be engaged.
GB: What do you want from the new Yotes?
DH: They need to take pride in being a Coyote.
GB: What sport surprised you this year?
DH: Men’s golf. They placed second in the Summit League Tournament on only half the amount of scholarships. Very encouraging stuff.
GB: What sport will surprise next year?
DH: I’m going to go with football. They have a very tough schedule next season but they are going to surprise a lot of people. They went 1-10 last year, I think next year will be a lot better.
GB: Why is the football team going to be better?
DH: Experience. Not only are they a year older, but they have also gotten a year under their belt in Coach Glenn’s system. We’re going to make sure we defend the Dome this year.
GB: What’s the best part of being an athletic director?
DH: To be honest, I’m going to say seeing student athletes graduate. It’s the most rewarding part of the job. I get to see the athletes grow academically, socially, intellectually and athletically. They come in as teenagers and leave as men and women.
GB: What is something people don’t know about your job?
DH: It’s not an 8-5 job. It’s 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It really doesn’t leave you.
GB: Who is the funniest coach at USD?
DH: The easy answer is (football coach) Joe Glenn but I’m going to say tennis coach Malcolm Gilreath. He sneaks up on you.
