BROOKINGS, S.D. — The South Dakota State University (SDSU) athletics department announced on Tuesday evening that Dan Jackson, a former player and assistant coach for the Jackrabbits, has been named the new head coach of the football program.

Jackson steps into the role following the departure of Jimmy Rogers, who took a coaching position at Washington State after guiding the Jackrabbits to the semifinals of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs.

This past season, Jackson served as the defensive coordinator under head coach Jason Eck at Idaho, but was preparing to transition to New Mexico for the same role prior to the opportunity at SDSU becoming available.

Having played for the Jackrabbits from 2003 to 2005, Jackson returned to his alma mater in 2012, assuming a graduate assistant position when the team began its remarkable streak of 13 consecutive appearances in the FCS playoffs.

He progressed to the role of cornerbacks coach in 2014 and also took on responsibilities as recruiting coordinator, special teams coordinator, and assistant head coach under John Stiegelmeier. After the 2019 season, Jackson moved to Northern Illinois for two seasons before being hired by Vanderbilt, where he coached defensive backs during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

The Jackrabbits enjoyed successful seasons in recent years, clinching national championships in both 2022 and 2023. This past season, the team concluded with an impressive overall record of 12 wins and 3 losses, earning co-champion status in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.