Bob Nielson Steps Down, USD Names New Head Football Coach

After guiding the University of South Dakota football team to back-to-back playoff appearances, head coach Bob Nielson announced his retirement, closing out a 32-year coaching career. Nielson, who took over the Coyotes in 2016, announced his decision following USD’s deepest postseason run in program history.

Nielson wraps up his time in Vermillion as a three-time Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) Coach of the Year with a 53-48 record, ranking fourth all-time in program wins. This past season, the Coyotes went 11-3, earned a share of the MVFC title, and made it to the FCS semifinals. USD also finished a perfect 8-0 at home, marking its first undefeated home season since 2011.

The Coyotes have named Travis Johansen as the 31st head coach in program history. Johansen has been with USD for six seasons, serving as defensive coordinator since 2019 and associate head coach for the last three years.

Under Johansen’s leadership, the Coyotes’ defense has become one of the best in the country. He’s coached two MVFC Defensive Players of the Year, Brock Mogensen and Mi’Quise Grace, and two Buck Buchanan Award finalists. In 2023, USD’s defense ranked No. 8 nationally in scoring defense and No. 18 in passing defense.

Before joining the Coyotes, Johansen spent six seasons at Grand View University in Iowa, where he helped lead the Vikings to five conference titles and an NAIA national championship in 2013. His defenses were consistently among the best in the nation, and he was a finalist for National Coordinator of the Year in 2015.

Johansen, a Blaine, Minnesota native, played linebacker at Concordia University, St. Paul, where he was a four-year starter and later inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2021.

USD will begin a new chapter with Johansen at the helm, as the program looks to build on its historic success.