College Sports Established
1862
Location
Vermillion, South Dakota
College Name
University of South Dakota
Collegiate History
2011 - Present / NCAA Division I
Conference History
2011 - Present / Summit League
Nickname
Coyotes - Sports fans in South Dakota have been cheering on the Coyotes for years, but do you know where the nickname originated from? The University of South Dakota’s athletic teams are known as the Coyotes, and their mascot is named Charlie Coyote. But where did this unique name come from?
The origin story dates back to 1903 when USD was still called the University of South Dakota School of Law. At that time, a group of students had formed an unofficial football team called “the Coyotes” due to their tenaciousness and determination while playing against other teams. This nickname stuck around until 1911, when it became official after being adopted by faculty members and students.
Since then, there has been much debate over why precisely these law schoolers chose such an unusual moniker for their team – some believe it was because coyotes were common in rural areas near Vermillion at that time; others suggest it could be related to Native American culture or even a reference to William Fetterman who fought off Sioux warriors during Red Cloud's War in 1866 (Fetterman famously shouted “Come on! You sons-of-bitches! Do you want me? Here I am!"). Whatever its true origins, though, one thing is sure: The spirit behind this fierce animal lives strong today with every roar heard inside Sanford Stadium whenever USD takes center stage!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Hockey 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1958
- 1989
- 2008
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Dakota Coyotes NCAA Champions
The South Dakota Coyotes men’s basketball team represents the University of South Dakota in NCAA Division I basketball. They are currently members of the Summit League. They are led by head coach Eric Peterson and play their home games at the Sanford Coyote Sports Center. Prior to joining Division I beginning with the 2008–09 season, the Coyotes were members of ... -
Since Football’s Debut
The South Dakota Coyotes football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of South Dakota located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and are members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. South Dakota’s first football team was fielded in 1889. The Coyotes appeared in ... -
Women’s basketball conference Streak
The South Dakota Coyotes women’s basketball team represents the University of South Dakota in NCAA Division I basketball. They are currently members of the Summit League. They won the North Central Conference regular season title in 1983, 1984, 1985, 2003, and finishing their time in NCC with a regular season and conference tournament win in 2008. The Coyotes in the ...
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History of the Coyotes
Throughout their history, the Coyotes have won numerous conference championships and made multiple appearances in NCAA tournaments across various sports such as football, basketball, volleyball, and track & field. In addition to these successes on the court or field, USD has produced some outstanding individual athletes who became professional stars domestically and abroad.
In 2019-2020 alone, several standout performances from Coyote athletes led them to great success throughout all levels of competition: Football QB Austin Simmons earned All-American honors while leading his team into postseason play; Basketball guard Stanley Umude became a two-time Summit League Player Of The Year; Volleyball player Elizabeth Juhnke set school records for kills per set during her senior campaign; Track & Field athlete Chris Nilsen broke three world records en route to becoming an eight-time NCAA Champion!
These accomplishments are just a few examples demonstrating why USD is considered one of America’s premier collegiate athletic programs today – they consistently produce excellent teams and remarkable individuals who go above expectations yearly! Whether you’re an avid fan or simply looking for something new to follow this season, keep your eyes peeled for what else this fantastic university can offer next!
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