Feb. 7—VERMILLION, SD — The University of South Dakota has opted for stability in its football program, promoting Matt Vitzthum to head coach following the departure of Travis Johansen.
USD athletic director Jon Schemmel announced Friday afternoon that Vitzthum would become the 32nd head coach in Coyote football history, with USD opting to stay in-house to fill the vacancy.
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Johansen left Vermillion after one season as head coach and seven total seasons on the Coyote staff to take the defensive coordinator position at Rutgers University, a Big Ten Conference program. His decision created a sudden opening and Schemmel moved quickly to elevate Vitzthum, noting his familiarity with the program and his proven success at multiple levels of college football.
Vitzthum completed his second season on the USD coaching staff in 2025 and most recently served as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Assisting with playmaking duties alongside offensive coordinator Tim Morrison, Vitzthum played a key role in guiding the Coyotes’ offense last season.
His impact was especially evident in the development of quarterback Aidan Bouman, who had another stellar season under Vitzthum’s guidance. In 2025, Bouman threw for over 2,000 yards for the third straight year and had a career-best 26 touchdown passes, cementing his place as one of the best quarterbacks in USD history.
Vitzthum initially joined the Coyotes prior to the 2024 season as wide receivers coach under former head coach Bob Nielson. In his first two seasons at South Dakota, the program reached at least the FCS quarterfinals both years.
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During his first season on staff, USD advanced to the FCS semifinals for the first time in program history, marking a major milestone for the program and furthering Vitzthum’s reputation as a coach capable of competing deep in the postseason.
Before arriving at Vermillion, Vitzthum built an impressive career at several collegiate levels. He spent a decade at Grand Valley State University from 2013-2023, one of the most successful programs in Division II football. Vitzthum began his tenure as quarterbacks coach before taking over as offensive coordinator for his final four seasons.
During that span, GVSU’s offenses have consistently ranked in the top 10 statistics in the country. The Lakers won five Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships and seven Division II playoff appearances with Vitzthum on the staff.
His coaching background also includes a successful stint at Wittenberg University in 2012, where he coached quarterbacks to a Division III conference championship and playoff berth. Before that, Vitzthum worked at St. Cloud State University from 2009-2011 as a graduate assistant, coaching running backs and tight ends, contributing to another league title and playoff appearance. A graduate of Wartburg College, Vitzthum began his coaching career as a student assistant before graduating in 2009.
