VERMILLION, S.D. — The University of South Dakota sports medicine team has announced the promotion of Brooke Opdahl to the Head Football Athletic Trainer position for Coyote football ahead of the 2026 season, announced on Monday morning.
 
Opdahl has spent the last four seasons on staff at South Dakota as the Assistant Football Athletic Trainer, after joining the USD sports medicine team in January 2022 as part of her athletic training clinical experience during her graduate program.
 
"Excited to promote Brooke to our Head Athletic Trainer position. She has been a vital part of our organization for the past four years," said head football coach Matt Vitzthum. "She has earned this opportunity and I know our student-athletes are in great hands!"
 
While in graduate school, she worked four different athletic training clinical experiences including at USD, with the University of Colorado at Boulder women's soccer program, Avera Physical Therapy, and with the Jackrabbit track & field program.
 
"Brooke has been an essential part of our staff for the last four years with the football team and I am excited for her to be elevated into this role," said Assistant AD for Sports Medicine Colby Keegan. "I have no doubt she will continue to treat our Coyote football athletes with the utmost care."
 
While a student at SDSU, Opdahl worked in different facets of the athletic training team for the Jackrabbits, specifically with SDSU football and the track & field program.
 
"I'm excited & grateful to step into this new role with the Coyote Football program," said Opdahl. "I'm very appreciative of Coach Vitzthum and the rest of the USD staff for giving me this opportunity to continue with the care of our athletes."
 
Additionally, Opdahl is a member of multiple athletic training associations: Northland American College of Sports Medicine, National Athletic Training Association, and the South Dakota Athletic Trainers Association.
 
Opdahl earned both of her degrees from South Dakota State University. She earned her bachelor's degree in exercise science in 2020, while earning her M.S. in Athletic Training in 2022.