VERMILLION, S.D. — Head coach Travis Johansen has added Patrick Markarian to his staff for the 2025 season to lead the Coyote offensive line room, Johansen announced Thursday morning. Markarian comes most recently from Fresno State with the tight ends and spent time at Baylor working with the offensive line.
 
"There are a lot of positives in Coach Markarian's background, but most importantly he is a winner with championship experience," said Johansen. "To be able to improve our offensive line with those qualities, alongside someone who has a familiarity with the Missouri Valley Football Conference is a homerun. We are incredibly excited to bring Patrick and his wife, Heidi, to Vermillion."
 
Markarian spent the last two seasons on staff at Fresno State University where he joined the staff in the winter of 2023 as an Offensive Analyst working with the tight ends during the 2023 season. The summer of 2024 saw him promoted to being the Bulldogs' tight ends coach.
 
"I am honored for the opportunity that Coach Johansen and Coach Morrison have given me to lead the offensive line at the University of South Dakota. Getting an opportunity to coach in the best conference in the FCS and compete to win championships is something special that I am fired up about," commented Markarian. "Coach Johansen' vision for Coyote football is something that I'm very excited about and can't wait to get to work with the staff."
 
Prior to his stint in Fresno, he was a graduate assistant at Baylor where he worked with the Bears' offensive line unit. While in Waco, he worked with an O-line that had a top-5 total offense in the Big 12 (2022) and a team that ran for 2,300+ yards on the ground and had four All-Big 12 offensive linemen.
 
He was also on staff with Baylor when the Bears won the 2021 Big 12 title and then went on to win the Sugar Bowl, coaching the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year (Connor Galvin) with a team that finished 17^th in the FBS and first in the Big 12 in rushing offense (3,000+ yards).
 
"The athletes in the offensive line room have set a solid foundation that we will be looking to build upon and reach new heights," said Markarian. "Building on solid relationship and development of each individual is of the upmost importance."
 
Markarian's playing days, he played on the offensive line at the MVFC's Indiana State for his final two seasons. He was a member of Indiana State's first FCS Playoff team in 2014. A native of Fresno, California, Markarian started his collegiate career at Fresno City College where he started at center and was a two-time Valley Conference champion. He played for Cole Popovich at Fresno City College, who currently serves as the assistant offensive line coach with the Houston Texans.
 
He graduated from Indiana State University in 2015 with his bachelor's degree in history. He would then earn his master's degree in physical education with an emphasis in coaching, also from Indiana State.