VERMILLION, S.D.— USD Athletic Director Jon Schemmel announced exciting changes for three USD staff members today. Alexa McMillen has been promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Equipment and Operations. Madison Mills has been named the new Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Excellence. Caleb Christensen will be the Director of Video Production and Creative Content.
Alexa McMillen has been with Coyote Athletics in some capacity since her playing days as a Coyote softball player from 2009-2012. After graduation, McMillen worked with the Coyote softball team until 2015, and has been a member of the equipment staff since 2016. In 2021, McMillen was promoted to Director of Equipment Operations. In her new role as Assistant AD for Equipment and Operations, McMillen will continue to oversee all equipment operations while adding oversight of the day-to-day business operations of the department including all contracts. She will also be a member of senior staff, and serve as the sports administrator for soccer, men's golf and women's golf.
"Alexa has worn many hats in the department, and we are excited to expand her role to fit her diverse skill set," said Senior Associate AD For Internal Operations Gina Mockler. "Being a former student-athlete, Alexa is a true Coyote and I am excited to see how she will continue to impact the department in a positive way. Alexa has been a valuable asset to USD for many years, and we are excited to have her continued leadership in the department."
A former USD pole vaulter, Madison Mills returned to Vermillion as an accounting assistant in 2022. Mills' career-best jump of 13-11¼ is still in the top ten all-time in USD's storied pole-vaulting program history. After she graduated from USD with a bachelor's and master's in business administration in 2017, Mills spent three years with the Teach for America program in Hawai'i. She was also an operations advisor for Tesla for two years. In her new role as Assistant AD for Student-Athlete Excellence, Mills will serve as the staff advisor for SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee). She will also be the athletics liaison to campus housing and the Student-Athlete Success Center, and will promote the NCAA holistic student-athlete model on campus. As a member of senior staff, she will be the sports administrator for cross country and track and field.
"Two years ago when Madison expressed interest in coming back to USD, we couldn't have been happier," said Mockler. "As a former student athlete here, she knows how special USD and Vermillion are and the impact they can make on our student-athletes. She is a proven leader within our department, and I know with her new duties, she will greatly impact the lives of our student-athletes on a daily basis."
Caleb Christensen joined USD in January 2020 as a member of the sports information staff. He quickly showed an aptitude for video production and editing and was named the director of video production in 2021. An alum of SDSU, Christensen has also spent time in the sports information offices of his alma-mater and Augustana University where he earned his master's degree. Christensen will continue to oversee all video content produced for the GoYotes.com website and all USD social channels. He will also manage the relationship between USD and Midco and oversee all game operations in the Midco Sports Production booth. This title more accurately reflects the great work Christensen has been doing at USD since his arrival in 2020.
"Caleb is a rising star in the creative industry and his new title reflects his day-to-day duties," said Associate AD for Fan Engagement Jarren Duffy. "He continues to put in the work to provide Coyote Nation with content that tells the story of our student-athletes and promotes the athletic department. From his work on gameday streams to hype videos and social media content, I am extremely proud and excited for Caleb's development."
These promotions are effective immediately. For contact information for McMillen, Mills and Christensen, please see the staff directory page at GoYotes.com.
