SDSU week arrives for Davis family

Josh Davis knew this week was coming when he was hired at the University of South Dakota as the Coyotes’ offensive coordinator last winter. He also knew it would seem sort of weird.

As a former South Dakota State star receiver and assistant coach, he’s not the first person to move on to work at another school that appears on his alma mater’s schedule the following season. There is no denying the circumstances are distinctive, however, and no denying it will be memorable.

“It’s a week my wife and my family have been looking forward to – and potentially also dreading a little bit just in terms of the love I have for both programs,” said Davis, who caught 225 passes as a Jackrabbit receiver from 2002-05. “Ultimately it comes down to 11-on-11 football, the same game we’ve all been playing our whole lives, but yes, this week is unique for sure.”

If Davis was trying to shift the focus from his prior connections to SDSU, a good way would be to make sure his current team provides other things to talk about. 

On that count, the numbers say he’s been successful. In his first year in the program the Coyotes will enter this much anticipated matchup with the top-ranked defending national champions ranked No. 4 in the country.

The Coyotes have not lost to an FCS opponent this year. An early season road win over North Dakota State, ranked No. 2 at the time, seemed to signify there was potential for excitement up ahead. Since then, the coaching staff and the team have done a fine job of sustaining it.

“I’m really proud of what our football team has been able to do thus far,” Davis said. “And I still don’t think we’ve played our best football. I’m very happy with the way our guys are buying into what it takes to be a team. Our guys really do root for one another. I think that’s extremely important in the culture of a football team. We are all in this together.”

After Davis completed his impressive career as a player at SDSU in 2005, he was back as a coach for John Stiegelmeier in 2009. He left in 2015 to become the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Northwestern College and was back at SDSU in 2022. A few days after the Jacks’ national title win, he was announced as USD head coach Bob Nielson’s new offensive coordinator.

It might have seemed a surprising decision to some, given his association with the Coyotes’ state rival, but it’s all making sense these days.

“He is an outstanding person, leader and teacher,” Nielson said the day the hiring was announced. “He has proven his abilities as a championship-caliber offensive coach, coordinator and play caller. His knowledge of our league will be a tremendous asset to our program as we move forward in 2023.”

Davis, a native of Omaha, Neb., has been getting texts from old teammates this week. His replies have been mostly business.

“I’ve heard from some people I haven’t heard from in a long time,” he said. “They’re old friends from Brookings. They ask me if I have any more tickets – which I don’t. I make a short reply out of respect for them and then I get back to work.”

One of these old friends from Brookings made a personal appearance at the Dome recently. He wasn’t looking for tickets, just the chance to say hi to his former player and assistant.

It had to be sort of an odd sight to see Coach Stiegelmeier walking around the Dome. 

“He snuck in unannounced,” Davis said. “It was brief – probably 10 minutes. He was driving by on I-29 and he had a few minutes so he made those minutes valuable by stopping by. That’s how he lives his life.”

While references to the longtime SDSU coach, now retired, might make a few of the Coyote faithful a little squeamish, the fact remains he left a profound impression on the USD’s offensive coordinator.

“I had a lot of growing up to do throughout my athletic career,” Davis said. “He handled it with extraordinary patience. From the time that I first met him in 2001 to last week when I gave him a hug he’s had a lot to do with where I’m at. … I owe him a lot as a mentor and faith leader in my life.”

Life is about the Coyotes these days, though. Getting the opportunity to be an offensive coordinator at a Division I school is a challenge he is responding to with a steady supply of enthusiasm

“To be able to coordinate an offense with quality professionals around me at a quality school like USD gives me great energy,” Davis said. “I’m doing what I love at a place I love with people I love.”

Davis and his wife, Brittany, have three children. Isabel (6), Reese (4) and Demi (1) are part of his other team in Vermillion. They are also posting a lot of wins these days. 

“Being here at this school in this job has given me more energy when I wake up in the morning than I’ve ever had in my life,” Davis said. “It’s such a positive thing. It has affected my role as a husband, a dad and a coach. It might sound corny but for me it’s very real.”