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South Dakota State University Athletics
Photo by: Inertia Sports Media/Dave Eggen
JACKSON INTRODUCED AS HEAD COACH
1/10/2025 3:30:00 PM | Football
Dan Jackson was formally introduced Friday morning as the 22nd head coach in South Dakota State football history, returning to the program in which he played and began his collegiate coaching career.
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"South Dakota State is a special place and it's just so comforting to be back. I cannot wait to begin this journey and make this university and this football program even more special than it already is," Jackson said. "I'm ready. I'm prepared. I have seen and experienced so many different things throughout my career that I have no doubt that we're going to take this football program to new heights."
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An Omaha native, Jackson began his association with SDSU football as a player from 2003-05. He joined the Jackrabbits' coaching staff as a graduate assistant in 2012, when SDSU began its current streak of 13 consecutive appearances in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. He was elevated to cornerbacks coach in 2014 and also served as recruiting coordinator, special teams coordinator and assistant head coach under John Stiegelmeier before moving on to Northern Illinois following the 2019 season.
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Jackson coached two seasons at Northern Illinois, then was hired at Vanderbilt, where he coached defensive backs during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. In 2024, Jackson became a defensive coordinator for the first time when he joined the coaching staff at Idaho under former Jackrabbit colleague Jason Eck. He also coached the linebackers for a Vandals squad that advanced to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs. Jackson recently was tabbed to become defensive coordinator at New Mexico under Eck.
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"There's a new landscape in college football and those things can change, and morph and move, but our standards will not change," Jackson said. "Our goal will always be to win a national championship. Our goal will always be to be the best football program in the country. We will evolve and we will grow and we will thrive in the new landscape of college football."
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Joining Jackson in Brookings is his wife, Missy.
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WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
"(Dan Jackson) will represent the core values of not only the Athletic Department, but this university, that guide us daily. I want to stress that the football program at SDSU is moving forward. We will continue to have the success on and off the field we have come to appreciate. Our next chapter is just unfolding and I am extremely excited." — SDSU President Barry Dunn
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"We've spent years building success on the fields, we've spent years building success in the classroom and we've spent years working to fill this building and the stands. We know who we are and we're really proud of the impact that we have on this university. But what we needed was a leader that understood this, could embrace it, but who also could help us navigate all the challenges we are facing in college athletics moving forward." — SDSU Director of Athletics Justin Sell
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"Dan Jackson is a passionate leader who cares for the individuals in the program. He is positive, he is a tremendous recruiter and he is a true Jackrabbit. He will give SDSU his best." — John Stiegelmeier, former SDSU head coach (1997-2022)
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"Knowing how special and personal it is to coach at your alma mater, I'm thrilled for Dan to have the opportunity to return to Brookings. His energy, positivity and coaching experience will be tremendous assets as he begins building on Coach Stiegelmeier's championship legacy. I cannot wait to see what's ahead for Jackrabbit Football." — Clark Lea, Vanderbilt head coach
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"From the time I first worked with Dan Jackson in 2016, I knew he would be a head coach. Dan did an outstanding job leading our defense last year. His ability to connect with people of all backgrounds, his work ethic and his energy make him ready for this opportunity. " — Jason Eck, New Mexico head coach
"I am extremely excited for Dan and Missy for the opportunity presented to them at South Dakota State. Dan has a passion for coaching, he is extremely organized and thorough, and always saw the big picture even as an assistant. It is professionally fulfilling to witness Dan Jackson rise to become the head coach at his alma mater. Dan Loves SDSU with all of his heart and will do an excellent job keeping the championship standards. I wish him all the best." — Thomas Hammock, Northern Illinois head coach
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ABOUT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
South Dakota State concluded the 2024 season with a 12-3 overall record and claimed its third consecutive Missouri Valley Football Conference crown with a share of the title. The Jackrabbits, who won national championships in 2022 and 2023, reached the semifinal round of the FCS playoffs this fall for the fifth consecutive season and seventh time in the last eight years.
Renewal applications for existing season ticket holders for the 2025 football season are now available online through Jackrabbittickets.com. New season ticket deposits will go live at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14.
SDSU is slated to play seven home games during the 2025 season, starting with the Aug. 30 season opener against Sacramento State.
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"South Dakota State is a special place and it's just so comforting to be back. I cannot wait to begin this journey and make this university and this football program even more special than it already is," Jackson said. "I'm ready. I'm prepared. I have seen and experienced so many different things throughout my career that I have no doubt that we're going to take this football program to new heights."
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An Omaha native, Jackson began his association with SDSU football as a player from 2003-05. He joined the Jackrabbits' coaching staff as a graduate assistant in 2012, when SDSU began its current streak of 13 consecutive appearances in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. He was elevated to cornerbacks coach in 2014 and also served as recruiting coordinator, special teams coordinator and assistant head coach under John Stiegelmeier before moving on to Northern Illinois following the 2019 season.
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Jackson coached two seasons at Northern Illinois, then was hired at Vanderbilt, where he coached defensive backs during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. In 2024, Jackson became a defensive coordinator for the first time when he joined the coaching staff at Idaho under former Jackrabbit colleague Jason Eck. He also coached the linebackers for a Vandals squad that advanced to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs. Jackson recently was tabbed to become defensive coordinator at New Mexico under Eck.
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"There's a new landscape in college football and those things can change, and morph and move, but our standards will not change," Jackson said. "Our goal will always be to win a national championship. Our goal will always be to be the best football program in the country. We will evolve and we will grow and we will thrive in the new landscape of college football."
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Joining Jackson in Brookings is his wife, Missy.
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WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
"(Dan Jackson) will represent the core values of not only the Athletic Department, but this university, that guide us daily. I want to stress that the football program at SDSU is moving forward. We will continue to have the success on and off the field we have come to appreciate. Our next chapter is just unfolding and I am extremely excited." — SDSU President Barry Dunn
Â
"We've spent years building success on the fields, we've spent years building success in the classroom and we've spent years working to fill this building and the stands. We know who we are and we're really proud of the impact that we have on this university. But what we needed was a leader that understood this, could embrace it, but who also could help us navigate all the challenges we are facing in college athletics moving forward." — SDSU Director of Athletics Justin Sell
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"Dan Jackson is a passionate leader who cares for the individuals in the program. He is positive, he is a tremendous recruiter and he is a true Jackrabbit. He will give SDSU his best." — John Stiegelmeier, former SDSU head coach (1997-2022)
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"Knowing how special and personal it is to coach at your alma mater, I'm thrilled for Dan to have the opportunity to return to Brookings. His energy, positivity and coaching experience will be tremendous assets as he begins building on Coach Stiegelmeier's championship legacy. I cannot wait to see what's ahead for Jackrabbit Football." — Clark Lea, Vanderbilt head coach
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"From the time I first worked with Dan Jackson in 2016, I knew he would be a head coach. Dan did an outstanding job leading our defense last year. His ability to connect with people of all backgrounds, his work ethic and his energy make him ready for this opportunity. " — Jason Eck, New Mexico head coach
"I am extremely excited for Dan and Missy for the opportunity presented to them at South Dakota State. Dan has a passion for coaching, he is extremely organized and thorough, and always saw the big picture even as an assistant. It is professionally fulfilling to witness Dan Jackson rise to become the head coach at his alma mater. Dan Loves SDSU with all of his heart and will do an excellent job keeping the championship standards. I wish him all the best." — Thomas Hammock, Northern Illinois head coach
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ABOUT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
South Dakota State concluded the 2024 season with a 12-3 overall record and claimed its third consecutive Missouri Valley Football Conference crown with a share of the title. The Jackrabbits, who won national championships in 2022 and 2023, reached the semifinal round of the FCS playoffs this fall for the fifth consecutive season and seventh time in the last eight years.
Renewal applications for existing season ticket holders for the 2025 football season are now available online through Jackrabbittickets.com. New season ticket deposits will go live at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14.
SDSU is slated to play seven home games during the 2025 season, starting with the Aug. 30 season opener against Sacramento State.
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