Travis Johansen Set to Step Down as South Dakota Coyotes Head Coach After Tempting Offer from Rival Team
In an unexpected development, Travis Johansen, who took the helm as the 31st head coach of the South Dakota Coyotes football team in January 2025, has announced plans to resign. According to reports, Johansen has been presented with a highly attractive offer from a competing program, one that appears too compelling to pass up.
— KELOLAND
Swift Rise in Vermillion
Johansen’s rise within the South Dakota football program was rapid and impactful. Since joining the Coyotes as defensive coordinator in 2019, he transformed the team’s defense into one of the strongest in the FCS. His leadership played a key role in the Coyotes capturing a share of the Missouri Valley Football Conference title and reaching the FCS semifinals in the 2024 season.
— ESPN Sioux Falls | SDPB | USD Athletics
Rival Club’s Lucrative Proposal
Though specifics have yet to be confirmed, sources suggest that Johansen received a financially significant and resource-rich offer from a rival team. The prospects for professional advancement and expanded resources appear to have influenced his decision to part ways with the Coyotes.
Impact on the Program
Johansen’s departure arrives at a critical juncture for South Dakota football. Following one of the program’s most successful campaigns, leadership stability is key to preserving momentum. The university must now identify a new head coach capable of sustaining and building on Johansen’s achievements.
— USD Athletics
What’s Next
As Johansen prepares for his next chapter, the South Dakota football community looks back on the strides made under his guidance. Though his resignation marks a loss, it also opens the door for renewal—both for Johansen and the Coyotes. The upcoming weeks will be essential as the program searches for a leader to carry forward its upward trajectory.
For now, the attention turns to what lies ahead, with both parties bracing for new challenges and opportunities.
