University of South Dakota Athletics

Joe Salem, a native of Sioux Falls, is one of the school's best coaches, resurrecting a Coyote football program upon his arrival in 1966. Salem turned around a football program which had won just nine times in 55 games over a six-year period prior to his arrival. Salem's 1968 squad, which had a 9-1 record, was ranked eighth in the final Associated Press Poll. His 1972 team, which shared the NCC title, was ranked sixth nationally by the Associated Press and fourth by United Press International. Salem led the Coyotes to three consecutive North Central Conference titles from 1972-74. Salem later served as head caoch at Northern Arizona (1975-78) and Minnesota (1979-83).