VERMILLION, S.D. - South Dakota head football coach Ed Meierkort and assistant head coach/defensive coordinator Mike Freidel will speak at the 29th annual Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Football Clinic that is being held from March 31 to April 1 at the Marriott West in Middleton, Wisc.

Meierkort, who directed the Coyotes to one of its best seasons in history last fall with a 9-2 overall mark and a final national ranking of 16th in the country, will be joined by Freidel in addressing defense (run support and formation movements out of two-deep cover) at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 1. This same conference will feature the likes of Wisconsin head football coach Barry Alvarez, West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez and St. John's legendary mentor John Gagliardi.

The Coyotes, who set 27 school records a year ago when USD finished second in the North Central Conference with a 4-2 record, return 18 starters, including eight on offense, nine on defense and one on special teams. USD has 54 letter winners returning. The 2004 Coyotes, who became the first team since 1986 to earn nine wins in a season, ended the year ranked 16th in the final American Football Coaches Association Poll and were ranked as high as seventh during the season.

Last season, USD had a finalist for the NCAA Division II Gene Upshaw Lineman of the Year (Brian Alderson, Hartford, S.D.), six All-NCC selections, five all-region selections, two Academic All-District selections, and 11 athletes named Academic All-NCC (six) or honorable mention Academic All-NCC (five). Spring football for the Coyotes opened March 29.