CHICAGO, Ill. -- Saint Patrick High School (Ill.) has announced that Ed Meierkort, head coach of The University of South Dakota football team, will be inducted into the Shamrock Hall of Fame on Friday, April 25. Meierkort will be one of 12 inductees in this year's Hall of Fame Class.

"It is tremendously flattering to be inducted with the two guys in the NFL, Tim McGarigle and Dan Santucci," said Meierkort. "Saint Patrick has always held a special place in my heart as it prepared me for my lifelong dream of being a NCAA Division I head coach. I would like to thank my parents for supporting me and sending me to Saint Patrick. I would also like to thank the SPHS staff, head coach Tom Buscorini who has supported and followed me throughout my career."

Meierkort, who is a 1977 graduate of Saint Patrick High School, was a two-sport star for the Shamrocks. He was a team captain and all-conference performer for the football and baseball team. Meierkort is also being honored for his success after high school. In four seasons at USD he has compiled a 33-13 record, which includes a 22-1 mark at home in the DakotaDome. In 2006 he guided the Coyotes to their first NCAA Division II playoff win since 1986 when they defeated Northwood 31-28 in overtime in the first round of the DII playoffs. Under Meierkort, USD has broke or tied over 100 school records and posted one of the best four-year runs in school history. During that span he has had two finalists for the Harlan Hill Trophy and three finalists for the Gene Upshaw Lineman of the Year Award.

Prior to arriving at USD, Meierkort was the head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. At UW-Stout he turned around a losing program and became the school's winningest coach by recording 55 victories in 11 seasons. In 2000 he was named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, the America Football Coaches Association Region 5 Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the AFCA National Coach of the Year award.

In addition to Meierkort, the Hall of Fame Class of 2008 features a wide variety of people who have made unique contributions to Saint Patrick High School, including: Paul Ridgeway '02 (Swimming/Water Polo), Allen Belli '61 (Personal Achievement), Anthony D'Andrea '86 (Baseball), Michael Fiandaca '80 (Football/Wrestling), Terry Frigo '97 (Basketball), Daniel Santucci '02 (Football), James Lynch '89 (Water Polo), William Moriarty '79 (Football, Wrestling), Rudy Presslak (Career Achievement), Timothy McGarigle '02 (Football), and the rock band New Colony Six (Personal Achievement).

The University of South Dakota will begin its first year of transition to NCAA Division I in 2008. They will be members of the Great West Football Conference in 2008 and will be eligible for the conference championship.