University of South Dakota Athletics

Jeff Nannen, a native of Syracuse, NE, was a two-sport star at South Dakota form 1976-80. He firmly established himself in Coyote lore as one of the truly best players to ever wear the red and white. He was a three-time all-North Central Conference basketball selection, a three-time academic All-NCC pick and a three-time Academic all-American. He was an athlete with outstanding quickness and leaping ability with the skills of a big man inside. Nannen finished his career as USD's all-time leading scorer with 1,782 points, twice winning the NCC scoring title. As a sophomore, he averaged 19.1 points per game and as a senior scored at a 20.1 points per game clip. Nannen was the only division II player to be selected on the West squad in the annual East-West All-Star Game in Indianapolis, IN. Nannen also ruled the North Central Conference high jump scene. Three days after winning the NCC scoring title in 1978, Nannen went out and defended his conference indoor high jump title with a school record leap of 6-9. Later that spring he had his name written into the record book after going 6-11 to set a South Dakota all-time intercollegiate mark at the Howard Wood Dakota Relays.