VERMILLION, S.D. — Head football coach Matt Vitzthum announced his first coaching hire to his 2026 staff since being named head coach in February. Vitzthum adds Heath Parling to his staff who brings over nine years of coaching experience with quarterbacks and other offensive skill positions as the next Coyote quarterbacks coach.
 
"We are excited to have Heath join our coaching staff. He has been successful at almost all levels of college football as a position coach and coordinator," said Vitzthum. "There has been a strong tradition of great quarterback play in this program and Heath will help continue that tradition. We are excited to welcome the Parling family to USD!"
 
Parling spent the last four seasons (2022-24) in the Division II ranks with the last three as the offensive coordinator at Upper Iowa University where he increased nearly all offensive aspects of the Peacock offense coordinating the offense. His final two seasons as offensive coordinator saw the Peacocks win seven games in 2024 (7-4) and nine games in 2025 (9-3); good for second and third-place finishes, respectively. Parling also produced a pair of First Team All-Conference selections in Mante Morrow (WR) and Eddie Burgess (TE).
 
"I'm honored and excited to be joining the South Dakota football program. I want to thank Coach Vitzthum, Coach Morrison, and the USD athletic administration for this opportunity," said Parling. "I am excited to get to work with our players!"
 
In the 2023 campaign, Upper Iowa had the second-best passing offense in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) as the program began their ascent from three wins in 2023 to nine wins in 2025.
 
This past season (2025), Burgess was named an AFCA Second Team All-American. He sat second on the team in receiving yards (641) while sharing the team lead with his 55 receptions, to go along with five touchdown grabs.
 
Prior to joining the staff at Upper Iowa, Parling spent four seasons as an offensive graduate assistant at a pair of FBS programs. He started at Miami University (Ohio) from 2015-17 and then two seasons at Colorado State (2018-19) where he worked with both the RedHawks and Rams quarterbacks and running backs.
 
His first foray into coaching following his storied career was at NAIA Marian University (Ind.). In his three seasons with the Knights (2015-17), he assisted the offensive coordinator with daily operations and was on staff for Marian's 2015 NAIA national title run. The Knights compiled a combined record of 30-6 in those three seasons and two trips to the NAIA playoffs (2015-16).
 
Parling and was a four-year letterwinner for the Lakers in his career (2009-14) with his final two years being coached by Vitzthum in Allendale. In his six seasons in a GVSU uniform, the Lakers won five GLIAC titles and three trips to the NCAA Division II playoffs with two semifinal appearances. Parling threw for over 10,000 yards and 70+ in his Laker career.
 
In 2011, Parling was a Division II Quarterback of the Year finalist as he led the Division II ranks in passing efficiency. The two-time All-GLIAC honoree (2011, 2014) led GVSU to three NCAA Division II playoff appearances and was a member of the GVSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
 
He earned his undergraduate degree in history from Grand Valley State University in 2014. He's earned a pair of master's degrees from Miami University (Ohio) (2019) and Colorado State University (2022) both in sport management.
 
COACHING HISTORY
2026-pres: South Dakota (Quarterbacks)
2023-25: Upper Iowa (Offensive Coordinator; QBs + RBs)
2022: Upper Iowa (QBs + WRs)
2020-21: Colorado State (Graduate Assistant; QBs + WRs)
2018-19: Miami (Ohio) (Graduate Assistant; QBs + WRs)
2015-17: Marian University (Ind.) (QBs + WRs)