Brian Bergstrom is a familiar face to Jackrabbit football fans. Bergstrom was hired in January to be the new defensive coordinator and safeties coach under Dan Jackson, South Dakota State’s new head football coach.

With 25 years of coaching experience across multiple levels of football, Bergstrom has plenty of experience. Bergstrom previously served as head coach at Winona State, a Division II program in Minnesota.

Bergstrom is excited for the upcoming season and the new additions to the coaching staff and the team.

“I’m really excited, we’ve been able to put together a staff that has a great combination of guys that have either played here, coached here, or both,” Bergstrom said.

Bergstrom also said the coaching staff and team are working on ways to improve and continue the culture of South Dakota State football. Bergstrom understands the importance of teamwork and the team’s core values of TUFF (team, understanding, focused, finish).

“It starts with team,” Bergstrom said. “It starts with doing your job and trusting the guy next to you to do theirs.”

Bergstrom also talked about his personal goals as a coach such as impacting the lives of players outside of just football. He wants his players to be better husbands, dads and employees in the future.

“Brian brings a lot of experience to SDSU and has a great understanding of the culture that has made SDSU so special,” Eric Eidsness, SDSU’s offensive coordinator said.

The Gustavus Adolphus College alumni wants Jackrabbit fans to have faith in the team because of how motivated the team is to win.

“Even though a few people left and there was panic, we will not use that as an excuse,” Bergstrom said. “We will not slow down. Belief is entirely by choice, but the Jackrabbit fans have plenty of reasons to believe.”

In the last five seasons, the Jackrabbits have made it to the National Championship three times, boasting two FCS National Championships. The two without a visit to Frisco, Texas, The Jackrabbits fought all the way to the semifinals. 

Bergstrom is a man of faith and family, he believes that god opens doors for him and his family. 

“It became obvious that we were supposed to come back and that this job was meant to be,” Bergstrom said.

With a fresh team and revamped coaching staff, the