SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Former Coyote and Wyoming head coach Joe Glenn gave a rousing featured talk at the The University of South Dakota Athletics Department "Get Along Coyotes" fundraising dinner on Friday night at C.J. Calloway's Event Center in Sioux Falls, S.D. The event was held to help raise funds for scholarships.

The fundraiser featured talks by Glenn as well as former Coyote track and field standout and U.S. Olympian Derek Miles of Tea, S.D., and student-athletes Matt Murphy of Rapid City, S.D., and Stephanie Gebhart of Elkton, S.D.

Glenn told various stories from his days as a Coyote and recognized several of his former teammates in attendance. "I had great memories while I was a Coyote," said Glenn, who will begin his fourth year with the Wyoming football program this fall.

"What is important is that we get behind our athletic department and the university," said Glenn. "We all love this University and Athletic Department. We have to be ambassadors and step up to help support the move (to Division I)," he said.

According to Glenn, the most important factor for USD as it moves forward are that it supporters "believe." "You have student athletes with their heart and the mind in the right place. They work hard. It is our time to step up and support them."

Murphy and Gebhart talked about their experiences at USD.

"It's great to be a Coyote. I have given a lot of thought about my decision to come here and talked it over with my parents," said Murphy, a standout football student-athlete and ESPN The Magazine second team Academic All-American from Rapid City, S.D. "I couldn't be happier. I have a great degree and I received the opportunity to play for conference titles and in the playoffs," he said. "I picked the right place," said Murphy, who has already been accepted in the USD School of Law this fall.

Gebhart, a 15-time track and field All-American, also emphasized how happy she is that she made the decision to come to USD. "I think about all the experiences I have had at USD and I know that I am happy to be a Coyote," said Gebhart, who will be a senior this fall. "The decision to come here was one of the best decisions I have made. I feel like I am part of a second family. My teammates are family. Team chemistry is evident."

"All my experiences here have helped me grow as a person. I would do it again (come to USD). I am very proud that I when I compete I have South Dakota written across my chest," said Gebhart.

Miles also was grateful for the opportunity to go to USD. "Because of the decision to come to USD, I was given the opportunity to compete at the highest level," said Miles, who recently placed fourth in the pole vault at the U.S. Track and Field Championships and was seventh at the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, in 2004. "As a student-athlete at USD, you have the opportunity to do things and make the most of it. As I think about everything; that was never more evident than competing at the Olympic Games," said Miles.

He noted that his former coach Lucky Huber, the USD women's track and field coach, was at the Olympicgames. Miles pointed out that Huber has always been his biggest supporter and friend. "I believe the tradition of success was engrained into me by coaches. I see it in the student-athletes at USD today. I am excited to see what the future holds for Coyote Athletics," he said.

During the dinner, USD Athletics Director Joel Nielsen noted the success of the U's student-athletes during a short talk in which he gave an update on Coyote Athletics. Nielsen pointed out that USD received word this week that two student-athletes, Mara McGill and Heidi Muellenberg, had received NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships. USD now has had nine NCAA Postgraduate Scholars since 2004, a total which ranks among the top-10 among all NCAA institutions during that time. According to Nielsen, that the University is proud of the work that its student-athletes do on a continuing basis. He said that Coyote student-athletes with support of the coaches and others, work hard at academics and in athletics to achieve that success and proudly represent the University.

Former Coyote and now Husker Sports Network host Lane Grindle served as the master of ceremonies. In attendance was USD President James W. Abbott, USD coaches and USD alumni and supporters.