Making a change: Headed to the top
With the transition into Division I at a close, members of the University of South Dakota athletics are looking to take the next step.
While some programs, such as women’s basketball, have seen success at the conference and national level, the process hasn’t been quite as smooth for others.
Head football coach Joe Glenn said as programs continue to fight to break ground in Division I, there are noticeable limitations amidst athletics, one of the most important being athletic facilities.
“It’s been a work in progress,” Glenn said. “It hasn’t slowed down our work ethic and our enthusiasm, but it’s something I wouldn’t mind having improved.”
The light at the end of the tunnel is near with the proposed new sports complex arena, which, USD Athletic Director David Herbster said could be operational by 2016 if all hurdles are cleared.
“The new arena will take our programs over the edge,” Herbster said. “At that point the facilities are there for success, there are no other excuses.”
New men’s head basketball coach Joey James said the talk of a new arena gets smiles from people all over the athletic department, as it should benefit every sport on campus.
“It will help football, because they’ll get a better weight room,” James said. “And it will help the volleyball and soccer teams, because they’ll have their own places to play, and especially help out the basketball team, because they’ll have their own home court to show to potential recruits.
The addition of a new arena would aid with scheduling conflicts. The men’s basketball team has just 12 home games in 2013-14, while South Dakota State has 14, including three before the Coyotes even host a game at the DakotaDome.
“(The new arena) just from a scheduling stand point will help us because now we can have home games right here on campus,” James said. “Our first four games are on the road. When you have a new arena, and you come in and you have a basketball facility kids are really intrigued by that.”
USD President James Abbott said he wants to see as much success as he can from every single sport. He said he likes the way the coaches approach where teams currently are at, but knows better facilities are probably the next step for success.
“Athletes like great facilities, some are attracted to playing in the dome, some are not,” Abbott said. “It is great for football, but not for volleyball and basketball. I am asking the Board of Regents for permission on this new complex in November, and we’ll see where we’re at from there.”
The new arena won’t just help the traditional programs like basketball and volleyball; it will also support programs like golf.
“Once this new arena is completed all sports will benefit from it,” head golf coach Nick Hovden said. “It’s much needed to truly compete at this level.”
Following a season where the men’s golf team finished second in the Summit League, increased facilities will continue to bring in recruits and more success.
“Our golf program has a positive atmosphere surrounding it,” Hovden said. “We’re getting the right players in to compete, playing (in) bigger and better tournaments, (and getting) tons of interest from student-athletes all over the country.”
Along with the arena, USD is also investing in a new outdoor track and soccer complex. Within the proposal, renovations will also be made on the DakotaDome.
Recruiting
The addition of the arena will benefit teams in terms of recruiting, James said.
“It’s tough for us right now, because when recruits come in the fall to see our court they see a football field,” James said. “Kids like new things. That court will be new and improved, which will be a big boost.”
The benefit of moving into the Summit League — and the Missouri Valley for football — has also proven beneficial for USD athletics, Herbster said. However, it is an ongoing process.
“I have already seen a couple advantages in recruiting in my time here,” Herbster said. “But seeing more success in all the teams will get better recruits, which should result in more and more competitiveness from the Coyotes in all sports.”
Herbster, who was hired as athletic director this past April and has been with USD athletics as associate athletic director since 200.
“I’ve already seen recruits get excited about us being D-I. We’re able to recruit kids we weren’t able to before, because now athletes have the incentive of playing in the postseason, an advantage D-I presents,” he said.
Making strides
The Coyotes made the leap into Division I three years after rival schools North Dakota State and South Dakota State, both schools have made the playoffs in both football and basketball.
However, the Coyotes have had trouble getting success started, especially in football, where they have two wins in their last 14 games.
Prior to being hired in 2011, Glenn was head coach for the University of Northern Colorado, and said he is no stranger to development. In 1996-1997 Glenn led UNC to back-to-back championships.
“I’ve been there, and I’ve helped build a program (at Northern Colorado) from nothing. I think they won nine games in three years before I was there,” Glenn said. “But we built a program that went on to win two national titles.”
In the first year as a Division I school, the Coyotes football team tallied only one win, wherein NDSU has won the last two FCS Championships. Glenn said he isn’t about predict USD would do that, but said they are moving in the right direction.
“I’ve always lived in the present and approached recruiting that way,” Glenn said. “This is what’s going on here, these are our facilities, and this is our university. We like to tell (recruits) we are interested in developing the whole person, the mind, the body and the spirit.”
Abbot emphasized his belief that USD is ahead of the curve.
“USD is clearly playing up, the transition has been tough but the future is bright,” Abbott said.
New men’s head basketball coach Joey James said when first-years are recruited to USD, winning is always brought up, but there are other things that are just as important.
“Of course we’re trying to win our conference,” James said. “We’re trying to get better every single day. But my hope with these players is that after four years is that they graduate and get a job. And if they are lucky enough, then go and play basketball for their profession, wherever that might be.”
Building a fan base
Another way the school has tried to get bigger and better has been by expanding its fan base.
The football team played a home game last year in Sioux Falls, while the basketball team will be playing a home game in Rapid City Dec. 7 against Wyoming.
The volleyball team will also host Drake University in Sioux Falls Nov. 21 at the newly opened Sanford Pentagon.
“It’s a tricky situation, it’s good to bring Division I events to cities like Rapid City and Sioux Falls, but it’s tough to take our already few home games out of Vermillion,” Herbester said. “Ideally, we want fans to come to Vermillion to view our teams, but if our fan base can grow, we’d be very happy.”
