Coyote athletics are on the rise, stay optimistic for the future
I didn’t think much about my first experience with Coyote athletics.
I was lucky enough to be given tickets to a Coyote football game during the Fall Open House admissions event my senior year of high school.
“Cool, but whatever” defined my thought process in the game.
It was my first college football game, and unfortunately, the school I was visiting lost to Illinois State 34-31. After the game, I did my first in-depth reading of USD athletics.
Most stories sounded like a ticking time bomb was planted somewhere in the DakotaDome. The only question seemed to be, “What would ignite the bomb?”
Well, after stepping on campus for a year, attending at least one event of each sport and a following more, I can say the ticking time bomb doesn’t exist.
USD athletics, Coyote Crazies and ‘Yotes are all on the rise.
So much has happened to the programs in one academic year. Progress has been made, and our teams are on the cusp of new movements. There’s not a better time to have more optimism than today. There’s almost an endless list of good things that happened to USD sports.
Women’s basketball punched their ticket to the NCAA tournament. Men’s track claimed the indoor Summit League championships. Football improved dramatically. Tyler Starr is expected to be drafted. South Dakota State didn’t have a team in the basketball conference championships. Softball was a top 100 team in the country. Kendall Kritenbrink was named Summit League Volleyball Player of the Year.
Could there be any better time to come into USD and grow with Coyote sports? The answer is no.
On top of all those great things, there are remodels beginning across the board.
New men’s basketball coach Craig Smith and new volleyball coach Leanne Williamson began their careers at USD. Behind new quarterback Kevin Earl, football has an ever-growing expectation. Young tennis, soccer and golf teams are making visible growth.
Oh yeah, the women’s basketball team brings back all but one player from the tournament run, and there’s this new arena, track and soccer field being built.
Could there be even bigger things happening soon? The answer is, yes.
It was certainly a successful first year following Coyote sports. It should be a solid three more years and beyond.
