SIOUX FALLS, SD (KWSN) – Jed Stugart’s focus is squarely on the University of Sioux Falls Football Team. In his sixth year as head football coach at USF, Stugart will continue to lead the tradition-rich USF program, which has 22 straight winning seasons.
“I am excited about the future of our program,” said Stugart, who has directed the Cougars to six straight winning seasons, including a 34-10 mark in the past four seasons as part of one of the nation’s best conferences in the NSIC. “We have big goals ahead and will continue our drive to win a championship while continuing to thrive both in competition and the classroom,” he said.
Recently, Stugart was a finalist for the head football coaching position at Austin Peay State University, a FCS level program. For an FCS level program to show interest in him and his program is a compliment and only a short-term distraction, noted Stugart.
“Sometimes, you have a chance to look at options at a higher level. I think is a complement to our program and the tremendous young men who are part of it that other universities are looking at our success and interested in what we do,” said Stugart.
USF Director of Athletics Josh Snyder feels the same way. He is pleased that Stugart will continue to lead USF’s football team.
“Jed (Stugart) has been a leader on this campus and a mentor for our student-athletes. He is a good man who cares deeply about faith, family, his team and this University,” said Snyder. “We think it speaks volumes that an FCS level program would show interest in him and this program.”
Stugart and his staff are now focused on recruiting as they look to build on a 9-3 season and USF’s first-ever playoff berth.
“We have a lot of work ahead,” said Stugart. “We will continue to visit with potential student-athletes and their families about USF and the great opportunities that are available here,” he said. “In the meantime, we will focus on our off season training program and spring ball as we look ahead with confidence to 2016.”
“At USF, we have an exciting and closely knit team, who work hard and care about each other,” said Stugart. “They are part of a great run of success here at USF. Moving forward, we expect to build on the program’s legacy of success. It is a team and a program with a special bond and a brotherhood unlike anything I have experienced,” he said.
A Greeley, Col., native, Stugart arrived in Sioux Falls in 2010, promptly directing the Cougars to the NAIA championship game in a 13-1 season. In 2011, he began steering USF through transition from NAIA to NCAA DII. In 2012, the Cougars began play in the NSIC and had a 9-2 record. After a 6-5 record in 2013, USF has gone 20-4 in the past two seasons, earning national rankings in 22 consecutive polls and receiving two straight postseason berths, including the NCAA DII playoffs in 2015. In 2014, USF finished 11-1 and won the Mineral Water Bowl (42-10, Central Oklahoma) in its first-ever D2 postseason game.
Overall, he is 53-16 at USF and 79-23 (.774) in his career. Three times in four seasons, his teams have won nine or more games as he has led USF to a 40-15 record in DII, including 34-10 in the NSIC.
During his tenure, 49 Cougars have earned NSIC All-League recognition, along with eight All-Americans, three Academic All-Americans, 13 all-region honorees and 91 Academic All-NSIC honorees. Since joining the NSIC in 2012, the number of academic all-league selections has jumped each year, starting with 18 and reaching 31 in 2015.
Prior to USF, Stugart coached at UNLV, and Northern Colorado and was head coach at MidAmerica Nazarene, compiling a mark of 26-7. He played linebacker at Azusa Pacific (Calif.) University, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications in 1994 from APU and a Master’s degree in communications from UNC in 2003.
Courtesy: University of Sioux Falls