2025-26 Coyote Sports Network crew: (L-to-R) Jerry Palleschi, John Thayer, Gary Culver (Photo by Adam Pearson, USD)
John Thayer headlines the Coyote Sports Network team, on LEARFIELD, as the voice of the Coyotes. Thayer enters his fifth season as the play-by-play man for Coyote football and men's basketball. He will be joined by longtime Vermillion High School coach Gary Culver, who will provide commentary throughout football season. Jerry Palleschi enters his second season as the football sideline reporter and the voice for the Coyote women's basketball team.
About Thayer: Thayer enters his second season as the voice of Coyote football and men's basketball in 2021. He joined the Coyote Sports Network in 2013 as the voice of Coyote women's basketball, adding on sideline duties for football in 2015. He covered a pair of NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament appearances in 2014 and 2019, in addition to doing play-by-play for the Coyote volleyball team's NCAA Tournament debut in 2018. Thayer serves as the host to the USD athletics podcast, Yotecast, which debuted in 2019. A native of Eustis, Nebraska, Thayer worked for stations in Colorado and Nebraska before arriving in Yankton in July of 2012. He's covered state basketball tournaments and football playoffs in Nebraska, Colorado and South Dakota, while also calling NAIA national volleyball and basketball tournaments. His career began at his alma mater, Doane College, where he helped launch the Tiger Sports Network.
About Culver: Culver, a native of Sioux City, Iowa, is the all-time winningest coach at Vermillion High School. He led the Tanagers to five state football titles and a 201-155Â record in his 36 seasons. Culver also served as an assistant principal and athletic director at Vermillion. Culver is no stranger to football at South Dakota. He led the Coyotes to North Central Conference championship titles in 1972, 1973 and 1974 as a defensive back. Culver has served as the analyst of Coyote football broadcasts since 2013.
About Palleschi:Â Palleschi joined the Coyote Sports Network in August 2023 as the voice of Coyote women's basketball and the sideline reporter for South Dakota football. A 2012 graduate of USD, he has been a familiar voice in the Sioux Falls sports scene, working in various broadcasting roles.Â
Currently, Palleschi serves as the Project Director for the Sioux Falls Sports Authority, overseeing major professional sporting events such as the Sioux Falls Marathon, Sioux Falls Boxing Classic, and NCAA Championship events held in Sioux Falls. The organization also assists the Summit League with the Summit League Basketball Championships each year at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.
Previously, Palleschi worked at Results Townsquare Media in Sioux Falls where he produced and co-hosted an afternoon sports talk show, and handled play-by-play duties for ESPN Sioux Falls.
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KVHT 106.3 FM in Yankton serves as the flagship station for the Coyotes. USD fans can listen to all game radio broadcasts via the Varsity Network app on smart devices or can catch the games on the following affiliates:
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Football Radio Stations
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Basketball Radio Stations
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| Location |
FM Station |
AM Station |
Location |
FM Station |
AM Station |
| Rapid City, S.D. |
|
KKLS 920 |
Sioux Falls, S.D. |
KQSF 95.7 |
|
| Sioux Falls, S.D. |
KQSF 95.7 |
|
Yankton, S.D. |
KVHT 106.3 |
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| Watertown, S.D. |
|
KSDR 1480 |
Yankton, S.D.* |
KVTK 101.5 |
KVTK 1570 |
| Yankton, S.D. |
KVHT 106.3 |
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* If there are scheduling conflicts between men's and women's basketball, the women's games will be broadcast on Yankton's KVTKÂ 101.5 FM and 1570 AM. |
