Brian Bergstrom - Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach - Football Coaches

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia

Brian Bergstrom

Title:
Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach
Email:
Brian.Bergstrom@sdstate.edu
Recruiting Area:
Twin Cities, Southern Minnesota

Brian Bergstrom returned to the South Dakota State football coaching staff in January 2025 as defensive coordinator. He also will coach the team's safeties.

Previously a member of the Jackrabbit coaching staff from 2017-21, Bergstrom spent three seasons as heach coach at Winona State. He led the Warriors to an 18-16 overall record and directed WSU to an NCAA Division II postseason appearance in his first season in 2022.

Bergstrom first joined the SDSU coaching staff in 2017 as safeties coach and was promoted to co-defensive coordinator in 2019, positions he held through the 2021 season under John Stiegelmeier. SDSU qualified for the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs each of his five seasons in Brookings, including a national championship game appearance during the 2020-21 spring season and semifinal berths in 2017, 2018 and the 2021 fall campaign.

Bergstrom brought with him more than a decade of collegiate coaching experience to Brookings, including stops at several schools in his home state of Minnesota.

During the 2017 season, Bergstrom coached a safeties unit that was credited with more than 200 tackles and seven interceptions. Seniors Chris Balster (69 tackles) and Nick Farina (64 tackles) ranked third and fourth, respectively, on the team in stops, while reserve Larenzo Williams tallied a team-best four interceptions. Balster was an honorable mention all-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection.

The 2018 season was another successful one for the Jackrabbits despite having to replace both of its starting safeties from the previous year. Transfer Brandon Snyder (58 tackles, 2 interceptions) was named to the MVFC All-Newcomer Team in his lone season with the Jackrabbits, while senior Makiah Slade (42 tackles, 2 pass breakups) held the free safety position. As a group, SDSU’s safeties registered five of the team’s 17 interceptions.

In taking on an expanded role in 2019, Bergstrom helped direct a Jackrabbit defense that ranked in the top three of the Missouri Valley Football Conference in seven different defensive categories, including a second-place showing in total defense (294.8 yards per game) and third in scoring defense (16.7 points per game). The Jackrabbits also ranked third in the 10-team league with 18 interceptions, notching at least takeaway in the passing game in all 13 games.

Individually, Bergstrom mentored safety Michael Griffin II, who was named to the MVFC All-Newcomer Team in 2019 after sharing the team lead in both interceptions (4) and fumble recoveries (2), while adding 40 tackles.

The Jackrabbit defense once again proved to be a stingy unit during the pandemic-altered 2020-21 season by surrendering an average of 15 points per game to rank fifth among Football Championship Subdivision teams. In its run to the Football Championship Subdivision national title game, SDSU held two of its playoff opponents — Holy Cross and Delaware — to a field goal each.

SDSU also ranked third among FCS teams during the 2020-21 campaign with 12 interceptions and eighth with 17 turnovers gained. The 2021 Jackrabbit defense led the FCS ranks with 21 interceptions.

Bergstrom, who has coached in the Upper Midwest throughout his career, previously served four seasons (2013-16) as defensive coordinator at Augustana University in Sioux Falls. During his time at Augustana, the Vikings won a share of the 2015 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference South Division title and earned a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs. Bergstrom’s players combined to earn all-NSIC honors 13 times with one All-America selection.

He also served as special teams coordinator for one season.

A 2002 graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College, Bergstrom filled the role of defensive coordinator at his alma mater from 2006-10. He also mentored the Gusties’ linebackers for three seasons and coached the secondary for two seasons.

In between his coaching stints at Gustavus and Augustana, Bergstrom coached the defensive backs at Minnetonka High School in the Twin Cities metro area.

Bergstrom began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at St. Cloud State, coaching the linebackers during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. He then served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Crown College in 2005.

A native of Burnsville, Minnesota, Bergstrom was an all-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and honorable mention All-America selection as a linebacker. He was named team Most Valuable Player and was a team captain. In addition, Bergstrom was a CoSIDA Academic All-America honoree and was named the recipient of an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.