VERMILLION, S.D. – South Dakota head soccer coach Michael Thomas is pleased to announce the promotion of Maddie Burdick to assistant coach and the addition of Maddie Gaffney to the Coyote coaching staff.
 
"I'm extremely excited for our staff this season," Thomas said. "I think we have an exciting young coaching staff that is going to be able to represent the university well in many different aspects."
 
Burdick spent the 2018 season as a graduate assistant, helping the Coyotes to their best season in the Division I era. Under Burdick's guidance, South Dakota had its first all-region performer in midfielder Taryn LaBree, who also became the first Coyote to earn first-team all-Summit League accolades. Goalkeeper Parker Rytz tied the school record with six shutouts on the season while stopping a Division I-era best 82.6 percent of opponent shot attempts.
 
"Maddie came into our program and did a great job of making an immediate impact for us," Thomas said. "She relates well to the players and was a big part of our success last season."
 
Burdick graduated from Northern Colorado in 2018 where she was a four-year letter winner and a Big Sky all-conference performing goalkeeper. She was named the MVP of the Big Sky Tournament in 2015 after helping UNC advance to the NCAA Tournament.
 
She earned her bachelor of science in audiology and speech-language sciences in May of 2018 with a minor in special education. She is set to complete her master of arts in sport management and kinesiology from USD in August.
 
Gaffney joins USD after spending a season as the assistant coach at Bethel University, helping lead the defensive unit to its best season in program history. The Royals matched their best win total in program history with 13 victories with eight wins coming in shutout fashion. The five shutouts in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action set a program record during league play.
 
She coached three all-region performers and the program's first All-American in her season with Bethel.
 
"Maddie comes to us from Minneapolis after playing at a very high level and has a lot of knowledge," Thomas said. "She has a reputation as somebody who is able to connect with players and recruits. We are excited about everything that she is going to bring to the program."
 
Gaffney played collegiately at Minnesota, making 64 starts in 74 games played. As a defender, she tallied four goals and added seven assists. Three of her goals were marked as the game-winner. She is a third-team all-Big Ten honoree and earned NSCAA Scholar All-Region accolades.
 
She earned her bachelor's degree in kinesiology from Minnesota in May of 2018.