South Dakota State fell in the semifinals of the 2017 FCS playoffs to eventual runner-up James Madison. Can the Jackrabbits challenge for the title in 2018?
More: 2018 Season preview – James Madison hopes to claim FCS crown
Back in 1979, John Stiegelmeier was a student assistant for South Dakota State under John Gregory when the Jackrabbits went to the Division II playoffs. After graduate school at Northern Iowa, Stiegelmeier went on to spend three years coaching high school football in Wisconsin. Then the South Dakota native returned to the college ranks as the defensive coordinator at Division II Northern State.
In 1988, he got a chance to return to his alma mater as a defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator under Wayne Haensel. Three years later, Stiegelmeier was promoted to defensive coordinator by new head coach Mike Daly. When Daly departed after the 1996 season, Stiegelmeier took over as the head coach.
Through three decades coaching at his alma mater, Stiegelmeier has evolved into an institution. Of course, even institutions are human. In the offseason, Stiegelmeier came under heat after his arrest for driving under the influence. South Dakota State University hopes to use this as a teaching moment and Stiegelmeier remains at the helm of one of the best FCS teams in the country.
Coming off the best season in school history, Stiegelmeier will look to keep South Dakota State in contention for the Missouri Valley Conference title and a spot in the FCS playoffs. Before investigating whether the Jackrabbits can reach the playoffs for a seventh straight season, we should look at the offense and defense and then dive into their schedule.