The South Dakota Coyotes are a Division I swimming program in the Summit League. The Coyotes bring 28 swimmers into the Summit League competition this season. The Coyotes' season is taking shape as dual meets and invitationals are added to the calendar. South Dakota enters 2026 with 28 athletes on the roster. The Coyotes host home meets on the South Dakota campus. The Coyotes' meet schedule will be updated as results are posted. The Coyotes are anchored in a long South Dakota athletic tradition. When fans fuel a Coyote athlete on RallyFuel, 90% lands directly with the athlete — funding training, recovery, and the realities of college sports.
The University of South Dakota (USD) is located in Vermillion, South Dakota, competing in the Summit League at the NCAA Division I level. As the state’s oldest public university, USD maintains a strong academic reputation with over 10,000 enrolled students and recognized graduate programs in law, health sciences, and business. This institutional scale supports a structured and competitive athletic department with resources aligned for sustained program development and market growth within Division I athletics.
South Dakota’s athletics program, branded as the Coyotes, fields 15 varsity sports with particular strength in basketball, football, and volleyball. These programs benefit from a history of competitive success and regional rivalries, particularly with South Dakota State University and North Dakota State University, which drive local engagement and media attention. Basketball and football serve as primary revenue and visibility drivers, leveraging competitive conference positioning to enhance recruiting leverage and brand expansion.
USD’s athletics program benefits from a solid donor ecosystem and engaged alumni network concentrated within South Dakota and surrounding regions. This local support underpins the student-athlete ROI through sponsorship deals, community partnerships, and enhanced media rights negotiations. The DakotaDome, as a multi-use facility, provides a strategic asset by attracting fans and creating branded event experiences that increase market visibility.
USD’s NIL potential is amplified by a growing local economy and a brand that resonates at both the state and regional levels. The university’s ability to integrate NIL initiatives with recruiting leverage positions the Coyotes to capitalize on evolving collegiate sports economics. The institutional commitment to facilities investment and community engagement serves as a foundation for expanding NIL-driven revenue streams and elevating the program’s competitive stature.
