University of South Dakota Athletics

Hayden Meister was named director of football operations in January of 2023. He spent the 2022 season as chief of staff at Texas A&M-Commerce where he executed all operational aspects of the Lions' program. He served as director of football operations and video coordinator at Wagner College in New York during the 2021 campaign.

Meister hails from Marion, Iowa, graduated from Marion High School and attended the University of Iowa. He earned his bachelor's degree in 2018 and his master's degree in 2020 – both in sport and recreation management. As an undergraduate, Meister served as a student manager for the Hawkeyes and was also a promotions manager within the marketing department. He was hired as a football operations assistant while working on his master's degree.