When longtime South Dakota State University head football coach John Stiegelmeier ’79 announced his retirement following the program’s first-ever national championship, there was a moment of worry among Jackrabbits fans on who would succeed the legendary coach.
Those worries quickly dissipated when Jimmy Rogers was named the 21st head coach in program history. This is the third time in a row that SDSU has promoted the defensive coordinator to fill the head coaching vacancy, a tradition that has brought unprecedented success.
“It was really critical for us to have a coach who can continue the things that are of value to us—the culture, the family and doing it for an education,” said Justin Sell, SDSU’s director of athletics. “Jimmy Rogers has a passion and a belief in SDSU, in this football program, that is unrivaled. He is so understanding and has lived this experience. When you see him compete, it is so reflective of how he handles everything in his life—it’s about excellence, it’s about relationships, and it’s about being part of something bigger than yourself.”
A Chandler, Arizona, native, Rogers came to SDSU in 2006 after leading powerhouse Hamilton High School to two state titles in Arizona’s largest classification. Stiegelmeier, recognizing his raw instincts and passion for the game, told Rogers he believed in him and offered him a 65% scholarship.
“My loyalty has always been to this place because this place has never made me question theirs,” Rogers said.
Slightly undersized at the linebacker position, Rogers was known for his unparalleled work ethic and intensity, often spending hours in the film room to find an edge against his opponents.
“Jimmy was the hardest worker on the team, bar none,” said Ryan McKnight ’11, a former teammate of Rogers and founder of the Jackrabbit Former Players Association. “He’s also one of the most competitive guys I’ve ever met. Football, ping-pong—it doesn’t matter. He wants to win.”
After captaining the ’09 team to the program’s first FCS playoff appearance, the two-time all-conference selection turned his attention to coaching, serving first as a graduate assistant coach for the Jacks. After spending a season at Florida Atlantic, Rogers returned to Brookings and gradually worked his way up the coaching ladder.
Last season—his first as the sole defensive coordinator—Rogers guided an aggressive and complex defensive scheme that shut down opposing offenses all the way to the national championship.
“I’m extremely proud to be the next head football coach here at South Dakota State,” Rogers said. “At 17 years old, South Dakota State wasn’t a dream of mine, but 17 years later, I can say that my reality has become a dream. It truly has, and it’s because of the people I’ve had in my life, the relationships that I’ve built, the mentors I’ve had and the relationships that will last a lifetime.”
At 34 years old, Rogers has spent over half his life associated with SDSU and now considers himself a true “South Dakotan.” He and his wife, Haley, have two children.
“We made a statement in the 2022 season,” Rogers added. “But as I said to the team, that statement is now the standard, and we plan to uphold that.”
Addison DeHaven
