Rutgers officially hires South Dakota HC Travis Johansen as Defensive Coordinator
Rutgers Football is targeting South Dakota head coach Travis Johansen to be the program's next defensive coordinator after a long search.
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Football Rutgers' Hire of South Dakota Head Coach Travis Johansen As Defensive Coordinator is FINAL!
- Thread starter Knight Shift
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Hmmmm….without knowing more, on the surface it looks like I’d be pretty ok with this, if true.
I would like to thank @e5fdny and @bac2therac for the "suggestion" to start a separate thread for this topic and apologize to anyone who thinks this should have been an existing thread. 
The question is, will he decided staying HC there would be better for his coaching future or take a chance being the RU DC is the thing to do
The defense has taken a giant leap forward in the FCS under the leadership of Johansen, highlighted by the program’s best NCAA Division I FCS season in 2023. The season saw the Coyotes finish ranked No. 4 in the FCS rankings (STATS Perform and AFCA), pick up the first-ever 10-win season in the DI FCS era and first since 1986 as a program, the most MVFC wins in a season, and the first-ever trip to the FCS Playoffs quarterfinal round. The Yote defense was instrumental in the team’s success, being ranked in the top-25 in the FCS in three defensive categories including: No. 8 in scoring defense (17.7 opponent ppg), No. 18 in passing defense (180.8 passing ypg), and No. 25 in total defense (323.3 ypg).
goyotes.com
The defense has taken a giant leap forward in the FCS under the leadership of Johansen, highlighted by the program’s best NCAA Division I FCS season in 2023. The season saw the Coyotes finish ranked No. 4 in the FCS rankings (STATS Perform and AFCA), pick up the first-ever 10-win season in the DI FCS era and first since 1986 as a program, the most MVFC wins in a season, and the first-ever trip to the FCS Playoffs quarterfinal round. The Yote defense was instrumental in the team’s success, being ranked in the top-25 in the FCS in three defensive categories including: No. 8 in scoring defense (17.7 opponent ppg), No. 18 in passing defense (180.8 passing ypg), and No. 25 in total defense (323.3 ypg).
Travis Johansen - Football Coach - University of South Dakota Athletics
Travis Johansen was named the 31st head coach at the University of South Dakota on January 16, 2025 after six seasons on staff as the Defensive Coordinator (Feb.
goyotes.com
a legitimate target deserves its own thread,I would like to thank @e5fdny and @bac2therac for the "suggestion" to start a separate thread for this topic and apologize to anyone who thinks this should have been an existing thread.
but I'll complain about you doing it.
Finnly there looks like a light at the end of tunnel that's not the Fraser train like hire coming
From his bio with South Dakota:
Johansen has produced and coached 16 defensive guys who have gone on to be drafted in the NFL, receive camp invites, or signed as an undrafted free agent in his coaching career. He's seen 10 guys go pro at South Dakota, including three from both of his stops at Grand View and Concordia University, St. Paul. In the 2024 NFL Draft, defensive back Myles Harden was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the seventh round.
The defense has taken a giant leap forward in the FCS under the leadership of Johansen, highlighted by the program’s best NCAA Division I FCS season in 2023. The season saw the Coyotes finish ranked No. 4 in the FCS rankings (STATS Perform and AFCA), pick up the first-ever 10-win season in the DI FCS era and first since 1986 as a program, the most MVFC wins in a season, and the first-ever trip to the FCS Playoffs quarterfinal round. The Yote defense was instrumental in the team’s success, being ranked in the top-25 in the FCS in three defensive categories including: No. 8 in scoring defense (17.7 opponent ppg), No. 18 in passing defense (180.8 passing ypg), and No. 25 in total defense (323.3 ypg).
Johansen has produced and coached 16 defensive guys who have gone on to be drafted in the NFL, receive camp invites, or signed as an undrafted free agent in his coaching career. He's seen 10 guys go pro at South Dakota, including three from both of his stops at Grand View and Concordia University, St. Paul. In the 2024 NFL Draft, defensive back Myles Harden was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the seventh round.
The defense has taken a giant leap forward in the FCS under the leadership of Johansen, highlighted by the program’s best NCAA Division I FCS season in 2023. The season saw the Coyotes finish ranked No. 4 in the FCS rankings (STATS Perform and AFCA), pick up the first-ever 10-win season in the DI FCS era and first since 1986 as a program, the most MVFC wins in a season, and the first-ever trip to the FCS Playoffs quarterfinal round. The Yote defense was instrumental in the team’s success, being ranked in the top-25 in the FCS in three defensive categories including: No. 8 in scoring defense (17.7 opponent ppg), No. 18 in passing defense (180.8 passing ypg), and No. 25 in total defense (323.3 ypg).
If this is a done deal (hopefully), it seems like a very solid hire as DC. Also getting a guy on staff with HC experience which can only help. The whole thing seems similar to the PSU HC search, drawn out almost to the point of embarrassment only to land a very solid candidate.
If Thamel is reporting it, it is 99% a done deal .The question is, will he decided staying HC there would be better for his coaching future or take a chance being the RU DC is the thing to do
The defense has taken a giant leap forward in the FCS under the leadership of Johansen, highlighted by the program’s best NCAA Division I FCS season in 2023. The season saw the Coyotes finish ranked No. 4 in the FCS rankings (STATS Perform and AFCA), pick up the first-ever 10-win season in the DI FCS era and first since 1986 as a program, the most MVFC wins in a season, and the first-ever trip to the FCS Playoffs quarterfinal round. The Yote defense was instrumental in the team’s success, being ranked in the top-25 in the FCS in three defensive categories including: No. 8 in scoring defense (17.7 opponent ppg), No. 18 in passing defense (180.8 passing ypg), and No. 25 in total defense (323.3 ypg).
Travis Johansen - Football Coach - University of South Dakota Athletics
Travis Johansen was named the 31st head coach at the University of South Dakota on January 16, 2025 after six seasons on staff as the Defensive Coordinator (Feb.
Good news! Now when Greg is fired mid season we have an interim coaching candidate on staff!
I could get behind this hire, I like it. Young guy who has risen fast became a head coach at 39-40. Coached 10 NFL players during his time as DC at SDU another 6 at other places. Shows he knows talent. South Dakota is a top job in the FCS and his defenses were good. Has succeeded wherever he's been, this is the true definition of a young up and comer.
Dont know this guy but I LIKE the idea of a coach who has CALLED a D for 5 years as opposed to a secondary coach who will need time adjusting to calling plays AND overseeing he entire D.
Would love to know the story how they found Travis Johansen in South Dakota (not South Dakota State).
Anyone coming with him ?
goyotes.com
Nine Coyotes Earn All-MVFC Recognition - University of South Dakota Athletics
ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Following an 8-4 (6-2 MVFC) campaign and a second-place finish in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC), nine Coyotes – ten slots – have
goyotes.com
As long as Greg let’s him do his job.
Not bad for FCS:
Johansen’s reputation, however, has long been built on defense. Since taking over the Coyote defensive unit in 2019, he elevated USD to new heights on that side of the ball. Under his direction, South Dakota produced a pair of MVFC defensive players of the year in Brock Mogensen (2023) and Mi’Quise Grace (2024), both of whom were also Buck Buchanan Award finalists.
Johansen coached seven All-Americans and seven first-team All-MVFC performers during his time in Vermillion. Most recently, sophomore cornerback Mikey Munn earned second-team All-America honors from FCS Football Central in his first season as a full-time starter.
Across his coaching career, Johansen has helped develop 16 defensive players who went on to be drafted, receive NFL camp invitations, or sign as undrafted free agents, further underscoring his track record of player development.
www.mitchellrepublic.com
Johansen’s reputation, however, has long been built on defense. Since taking over the Coyote defensive unit in 2019, he elevated USD to new heights on that side of the ball. Under his direction, South Dakota produced a pair of MVFC defensive players of the year in Brock Mogensen (2023) and Mi’Quise Grace (2024), both of whom were also Buck Buchanan Award finalists.
Johansen coached seven All-Americans and seven first-team All-MVFC performers during his time in Vermillion. Most recently, sophomore cornerback Mikey Munn earned second-team All-America honors from FCS Football Central in his first season as a full-time starter.
Across his coaching career, Johansen has helped develop 16 defensive players who went on to be drafted, receive NFL camp invitations, or sign as undrafted free agents, further underscoring his track record of player development.
USD's Travis Johansen heading to Rutgers to become new defensive coordinator
After one season as head coach for Coyote football, Johansen will be taking his talents to the Big Ten.
www.mitchellrepublic.com
The evolution of offensive football—and the chaos it has wrought—has forced Johansen to develop some creative tactics and philosophies that have amplified his name in coaching circles, despite the fact that he isn’t much of an operator at clinics or networking events. Ask Matt Drinkall, architect of the high-powered Kansas Wesleyan offense that is currently averaging 54.3 points per game—good for only third in NAIA—if there’s any coach who could maybe slow down his offense, and he gives one name: Johansen.
The Search to Save NFL Defenses
As points come in unprecedented waves, NFL defensive minds look in unexpected places with hopes of sparking the counter-revolution
www.si.com
Might be too late. Players had to enter the Portal 2 weeks ago. CB Munn would have been a nice addition.Anyone coming with him ?
Nine Coyotes Earn All-MVFC Recognition - University of South Dakota Athletics
ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Following an 8-4 (6-2 MVFC) campaign and a second-place finish in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC), nine Coyotes – ten slots – have
Under current NCAA Division I football rules for the 2025-2026 cycle (effective for this period):
- The standard offseason transfer portal window closed on January 16, 2026.
- However, there is a specific head coaching change exception for football: A 15-day window opens for players to enter the transfer portal, starting 5 days after a new head coach is hired or publicly announced.
Amazing how you can post so much but not know the rules
You don’t hire someone who was recently promoted to head coach if that’s not the plan. This is a real hire. Good job Greg.
Seems like a very solid hire but it then leads to… what in the flaming F did it take so long.
Its a process..a VERY long Process . He was always in the mix but coach needed to see more tape. Needed to be sure his best could be our best.
Can only guess there.
As we knew, there was always going to be a standing DC somewhere who would take the pay check. Those on there saying nobody would be willing to take this job were just plain wrong and Greg had to know that.
Greg already came out and said to media shops that he was only willing to turn the keys over to someone who thinks philosophically about D the way he does. No clue what that means but that had to be the explanations for the early interviews stalling. He was only willing to take someone completely unconnected to him who “clicked” in checking this philosophy box. Who knows what he asked in those interviews or what he was looking for but there was something.
Greg probably also thought he had a chance on an NFL guy that ended up landing somewhere else. If those early interviews didn’t go exactly the way he wanted he was holding out. Then when the portal deadline came and went there was no longer an immediate rush.
In all seriousness, I don’t think there really was “a mix” outside of Greg’s network picks who he already knew share his philosophy. Early on - he interviewed some guys he didn’t know well and decided to pass (he was clearly looking to hear certain things in that interview as answers to his questions). I think he did his research and identified guys who could have defensive minds that match his philosophy but needed to meet them to decide. He called them in to interview to assess. Decided .they weren’t a match. I think that process has continued and outside of striking out with whatever NFL hopeful candidate he held out for, he seemed to be looking for something specific and finally found it. No clue what exactly. But we do know he interviews and passed on quite a few early candidates.
I like it, I think he is a good hire. Better than I thought RU would do.
Zeroing in and targeting etc…is just the lingo the media uses for something that’s pretty much a done deal but not officially announced yet. I can’t think of many instances where targeting didn’t turn into an official hire eventually.
FCS HCs and coordinators into the P5 are not bad choices a good amount of the time. The Dakota schools seem to churn out some good coaches too. Jason Eck, David Braun, Matt Entz, Chris Klieman, Jimmy Rogers, Rob Aurich to name a few have been solid to very good coaches when they stepped up.
FCS HCs and coordinators into the P5 are not bad choices a good amount of the time. The Dakota schools seem to churn out some good coaches too. Jason Eck, David Braun, Matt Entz, Chris Klieman, Jimmy Rogers, Rob Aurich to name a few have been solid to very good coaches when they stepped up.
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It was just humor.. nothing more nothing less.
I sincerely hope it turns out to be a home run hire. We need it badly.
I know. I’m just saying, for all the complaining it sure looks like Greg knew what he was doing and decided to keep the process on the DL. I’m sure he would’ve liked to get this done early in the portal cycle, but whatever specifics he was looking for in a candidate he wasn’t willing to compromise on. I don’t think that’s unreasonable. We want him to relinquish control of the defense to a DC. He told media reporters off the bat - in order for him to feel comfortable doing this, he needed assurance that the hire’s thought process on certain things is aligned with his.
Reflecting back - it seems he was brutally honest up front, and stuck to his convictions. Nobody should be unhappy.