# Dakota State Trojans football

The Dakota State Trojans football team represents Dakota State University, competing as a member of the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). During the 2025–26 academic year, the Trojans will be moving to the Frontier Conference. The school's first football team was fielded in 1908. The Trojans play their home games at Brian Kern Family Stadium. Their current head coach is Josh Anderson.

## History
### Conference affiliations

* South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference (1917–2000)
* Dakota Athletic Conference (2000–2011)
* NAIA independent (2011–2013)
* North Star Athletic Association (2013–2025)
* Frontier Conference (2025–)

## Conference championships

Dakota State has won 5 conference championships.
| Year | Conference | Coach | Overall record | Conference record |
| 1973 | South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference | Joel Swisher | 6–3 | 5–0 |
| 1975 | South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference | Joel Swisher | 6–3–1 | 4–1 |
| 1976 | South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference | Joel Swisher | 8–2 | 4–1 |
| 1977 | South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference | Gary Buer | 10–0 | 5–0 |
| 1978 | South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference | Gary Buer | 8–2 | 6–0 |

## Bowl games

Dakota State has played in one postseason bowl game. The Trojans have an all-time record of 1–0–0 in bowl games.
| Season | Bowl game | Opponent | Result |
| 1971 | Boot Hill Bowl | Northwestern Oklahoma State | W 23–20 |

## Coaches
### Current coaching staff

| Position | Name | Alma mater |
| Head coach & tight ends | Josh Anderson | North Dakota State University |
| Offensive coordinator & quarterbacks | Logan Levy | University of Maryland, Baltimore County |
| Defensive coordinator & middle linebackers | Anvil Sinsabaugh | Morningside University |
| Defensive backs | Daidrick Kibbie | Dakota State University |
| Offensive line | Deonte Randle | Dakota State University |
| Defensive line | Ryan Ross | Briar Cliff University |
| Wide receivers | Tobin Sharp | |
| Outside lnebackers | Devonte Murphy | |
| Safeties | Brock Swanson | |
| | Clifton Marshall | |
| | Mike Trimble | |
| | Cole Cartwright | |

### Head coaches

| Number | Name | Tenure |
| 1 | Charles C. Wagner | 1910–1923 |
| 2 | George E. Thompson | 1924–1927 |
| 3 | J. Elbridge Curtis | 1928–1930 |
| 4 | Chuck Reynolds | 1933–1941 |
| 5 | Bill Bulfer | 1946–1954 |
| 6 | Neal Tremble | 1955 |
| 7 | Homer Englehorn | 1956–1961 |
| 8 | George Blankley | 1962–1969 |
| 9 | Lee Moran | 1970–1972 |
| 10 | Joel Swisher | 1973–1976 |
| 11 | Gary Buer | 1977–1978 |
| 12 | Tom Shea | 1981–1983 |
| 13 | Al Weisbecker | 1984 |
| 14 | Larry Traetow | 1985–1988 |
| 15 | Gary Roach | 1989–1995 |
| 16 | Scott Hoffman | 1996–1999 |
| 17 | Marc Bergan | 2000–2001 |
| 18 | Gene Wockenfuss | 2002–2003 |
| 19 | Nate Holtz | 2004–2006 |
| 20 | Tom Shea | 2007–2008 |
| 21 | Josh Anderson | 2009–present |

## Rivalries
### Dakota Wesleyan

The Chamber of Commerce Traveling Cup is a traveling trophy awarded to the winner of the annual game between the Dakota State Trojans and the Dakota Wesleyan Tigers. The traveling trophy was introduced in 2017. Dakota State currently holds a series lead of 6–1.

## Stadiums

* unknown (1908–1967)
* Trojan Field (1968–2022)
* Dan Beacom Track Complex (2023)
* Brian Kern Family Stadium (2024–present)

## Individual awards and honors
### SDIC honors

All-Conference
* "Ronnie" Best (1930)
* "Art" Johnson (1930)
* "Bud" O'Dell (1930)
* "Red" Olsbo (1930)
* "Buster" Seitz (1955)
* Larry Dirks (1958)
* Bob Nangle (1958)
* John Rath (1958)
* Arlo Sorheim (1959)
* Dick Anderson (1962-63)
* Denny Halseth (1963-64)
* Dick Greenwood (1965-66)
* Loren McKinney (1965-66)
* Tom Petersen (1965-66)
* Gene Elrod (1965-67)
* Paul Tanke (1965-67)
* Dan Meadows (1967)
* Leo Heilman (1969-70)
* Dennis Ziebarth (1969-70)
* Dave Hanneman (1970 and 1972)
* Pat Behrns (1971-72)
* Mike Reed (1971-72)
* Dan Stratton (1971-72)
* Cliff Anderson (1971-73)
* Randy Berlin (1972)
* Darwin Robinson (1972-73)
* Wayne Stowell (1972-73)
* Craig Ebert (1973)
* Deny Lather (1973)
* Mick Twiss (1973)
* Toney Blanks (1973-75)
* Bob Casagrande (1973-75)
* David Roe (1974)
* Jeff Rodman (1974-76)
* Kevin Stormo (1975)
* Bruce Breese (1975)
* Ron Estacion (1975)
* Rick Rodman (1977)
* Mike Freidel (1976-77)
* Russ Schwartz (1977-78)
* Joe Arthur (1978-79)
* Brian Leighton (1978-80)
* Todd Payer (1979)
* Lynn Schuett (1978-79)
* Jim Janssen (1978-79)
* Dale Martin (1979)
* Brian Jacobsen (1980-81)
* Mark Hughes (1982)
* Gene Wockenfuss (1982)
* Clay Amick (1982-83)
* Tim Ramey (1982-83)
* Eugene Tetzlaff (1982-83)
* Rod Kopfman (1982-84)
* Tony Wrice (1982-84)
* Mark Jacobsen (1983-84)
* Bruce Johannes (1983)
* Keith Stifter (1983-84)
* Bryan Lund (1984)
* Mike Thorpe (1984)
* Bill Nelson (1984)
* Sylvester Clark (1984)
* Paul Minor (1984)
* Brian Kern (1986-87)
* Tom Cummings (1989)
* Jeff Rensch (1989-91)
* Earl Berglund (1991-92)
* Dave Colberg (1991-92)
* Mike Katen (1991-92)
* Mike Mason (1991-92)
* Paul Naughton (1991-92)
* Don Simon (1991-93)
* Scott Millett (1991-93)
* Ben Button (1992 and 1994)
* Jason Smidt (1994)
* Tard Smith (1993-95)
* Max Hodgen (1992-95)
* Adam McVane (1994)
* Chad Ostrem (1994)
* Josh Anderson (1994-95)
* Chris Martin (1995)
* Larry Voss (1996-98)
* Derek Bush (1998)
* Steve Eide (1998)
* Jon Knutson (1998)
* Rich Nolte (1998)
* Troy Williamson (1998)
* Kyle Jellema (1998-99)
* Craig Jones (1998-99)
* Jared Peterreins (1998-99)
* Malcom Spaulding (1999)
* Justin Thielke (1999)
* Scot Namanny (1999)

### DAC honors

All-Conference
* Jared Peterreins (2000)
* Craig Jones (2000)
* Justin Thielke (2000)
* Scot Namanny (2001)
* Jeremy Javers (2000-01)
* Brad Callahan (2001)
* Mark Maples (2001)
* Paul Lutu-Carroll (2001-02)
* Jesse Zwetzig (2001-02)
* BJ Podhradsky (2001-02)
* Tommy Hofer (2003-05)
* Ben Buisker (2003)
* Mike Sonne (2003-04)
* Tom Nielsen (2003)
* Blake Klinger (2004)
* Art Solis (2005)
* Nick Podhradsky (2005)
* Donald Strand (2005-08)
* Derek Barrios (2005)
* Derek Gosch (2005 and 2007)
* Gaven Davis (2007)
* Toby Ball (2007)
* Noah Sanderson (2007)
* Aaron Aylward (2008)
* Andrew Fatten (2008)
* Austen Hanten (2008)
* T.J. Simmons (2008)
* Ryan Poss (2009)
* Joe Whealy (2009-10)

### NSAA honors
## NFL Players

* Darwin Robinson – Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks
* Danny Stratton – Cleveland Browns

## CFL Players

* Tommy Hofer – Toronto Argonauts