After losing head coach Travis Johansen to become the defensive coordinator at Rutgers, South Dakota (FCS) is moving quickly to fill one of the most coveted coaching jobs in FCS.
Sources tell FootballScoop Matt Vitzthum is expected to be promoted to fill the head coaching role.
(Update >> The school has announced this).
The Coyotes co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach last season, Vitzthum just wrapped up his second season on staff. He initially joined the staff to coach the receivers before a promotion heading into the 2025 season where they finished the year 10-5.
Before joining the FCS ranks, Vitzthum spent over a decade on the staff at Division II power Grand Valley State, where he logged 11 total seasons on staff. His final four season in Allendale was as the team's offensive coordinator and he spent the majority of his time with the Lakers coaching their quarterbacks.
The move caps a climb from Division III assistant to FCS head coach, as he coached at Wittenberg (D-III - OH) back in 2012 and is a graduate and former student assistant at Wartburg (D-III - IA).
Here's a bit more on Vitzthum from his South Dakota bio page.
Matt Vitzthum was named the 32nd head coach in program history on February 6, 2026 after two seasons on staff at South Dakota. He's been on staff for two FCS Playoff runs including a semifinals run in 2024. He's worked with both the Coyote wide receivers (2024) and quarterbacks (2025), including the final season of Coyote great Aidan Bouman.
He joined the staff under Nielson in February 2024 season as the wide receivers coach. In December 2024, Vitzthum was promoted to Co-Offensive Coordinator for the Coyotes heading into the 2025 season under first-year head coach Travis Johansen.
In his coaching career, Vitzthum has been on the staff of three different programs that have won a conference title and/or earned NCAA Playoff berths, both at the Division II and Division III levels, prior to him joining Nielson's staff at USD.
In his first season at South Dakota (2024), Vitzthum coached MVFC All-Newcomer team member in Quaron Adams who led the Valley with his 30.2 yards per catch this season. Vitzthum also worked day-to-day with the program's now all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards, Carter Bell, to finish out his collegiate career.
Vitzthum also spent time at Grand Valley State (Mich.), the last 11 seasons, from 2013-23. He joined the Lakers staff as the quarterbacks coach in 2013 and took over the Offensive Coordinator duties for his final four seasons in Allendale.
GVSU is one of the most decorated programs at the Division II level, and their time under Vitzthum was no exception. His offenses regular ranked top-10 in the national in multiple categories, while the Lakers would win five Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) titles and seven trips to the Division II Playoffs with Vitzthum on staff.
Prior to his time at Grand Valley State, Coach Vitzthum served as the quarterbacks coach at Wittenberg University (Ohio) for the 2012 season where his team won a league title and made a playoffs appearance at the NCAA Division III level.
Before Wittenberg, he was a GA/running backs and tight ends coach at St. Cloud State (Minn.) for three seasons from 2009-2011 where he also won a league title and made a playoffs appearance.
As an undergraduate at Wartburg College, Vitzthum was a student assistant for the football team. He graduated from Wartburg in 2009.
Vitzthum and his wife, Alyssa, have a son Hayden, and a daughter, Emery.