Travis Johansen was named the 31st head coach at the University of South Dakota on January 16, 2025 after six seasons on staff as the Defensive Coordinator (Feb. 2019) and the last three as the Associate Head Coach (2022-24 seasons).
Since taking of the defensive unit in 2019, Johansen has the Coyotes defense to new heights. He has coached a pair of Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) Defensive Players of the Year (Brock Mogensen, 2023; Mi'Quise Grace, 2024) and a pair of Buck Buchannan Award Finalists (Mogensen, 2023; Grace, 2024). As well, he's coached seven All-Americans (AFCA, STATS Perform, Phil Steele, AP) and seven First Team All-MVFC performers.Â
Johansen has produced and coached 16 defensive guys who have gone on to be drafted in the NFL, receive camp invites, or signed as an undrafted free agent in his coaching career. He's seen 10 guys go pro at South Dakota, including three from both of his stops at Grand View and Concordia University, St. Paul. In the 2024 NFL Draft, defensive back Myles Harden was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the seventh round.
Johansen comes to Vermillion from after six seasons at Grand View University (Iowa) at the NAIA level where the Vikings compiled a 61-11 record with five Heart of America Athletic Conference championships, six NAIA playoff appearances, and the 2013 NAIA national title following a 14-0 campaign. Grand View finished inside the top-15 of the NAIA national rankings in all six seasons, including four top-10 rankings.
The defense has taken a giant leap forward in the FCS under the leadership of Johansen, highlighted by the program’s best NCAA Division I FCS season in 2023. The season saw the Coyotes finish ranked No. 4 in the FCS rankings (STATS Perform and AFCA), pick up the first-ever 10-win season in the DI FCS era and first since 1986 as a program, the most MVFC wins in a season, and the first-ever trip to the FCS Playoffs quarterfinal round. The Yote defense was instrumental in the team’s success, being ranked in the top-25 in the FCS in three defensive categories including: No. 8 in scoring defense (17.7 opponent ppg), No. 18 in passing defense (180.8 passing ypg), and No. 25 in total defense (323.3 ypg).
The 2021 season proved to be a breakout season for the Coyote defense under Johansen, in just his second full season (non-COVID year). That season saw USD make the program’s first-ever MVFC Championship game appearance, as well as hosting their first-ever home FCS Playoff game (vs. Southern Illinois). The Yotes finished 7-5 on the year with the defense ranking inside the top-25 in three categories, including: No. 21 in sacks per game (2.75), No. 23 in scoring defense (20.7 opponent ppg), and No. 24 in rushing defense (120.9 rushing ypg).
Johansen’s first season at USD in 2019 featured several highlights. During a three-game win streak in the first half of the season, the Coyotes held their three foes to a combined 745 yards and 16 points. It marked the first time since 2008 that USD held three consecutive foes to 16 points or fewer. USD went on to knock off fifth-ranked South Dakota State on Senior Day inside the DakotaDome when Johansen’s unit stopped three fourth-quarter drives to preserve a 24-21 victory.
During his stop in Des Moines (Grand View), Johansen was a Heart of America Assistant Coach of the Year finalist in each of his last two seasons and was a national coordinator of the year finalist in 2015. He was even featured in aÂ
Sports Illustrated article,
The Search to Save NFL Defenses, in November of 2018. Grand View was ranked as one of the top NAIA defenses throughout Johansen’s stay there, producing seven defensive All-Americans.
Johansen worked with the secondary at his alma mater (Concordia, St. Paul) before being promoted to Defensive Coordinator in 2011. The year prior, the Golden Bears won eight games, most in their Division II era, and competed in the Mineral Water Bowl. He recruited Concordia’s first-ever NFL Draft pick in Zach Moore.
Johansen grew up in Blaine, Minnesota, and was a standout linebacker at Concordia University, St. Paul (Minn.), where he earned All-NSIC honors as a team captain and won two NSIC championships. He graduated with a degree in kinesiology and sport science in 2007 and stayed on staff at Concordia for seven years before moving to Grand View.
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In his playing career, Johansen was a four-year starter with a 33-13 record including a 24-7 mark in conference play. He finished with 221 career tackles, 23.5 for loss, and 5.0 sacks in his dual role as a safety and linebacker during his playing years as a Golden Bear.
He was inducted to Concordia University’s Hall of Fame in the Class of 2021. By the time he left CUSP, Johansen was involved in 65 of the program’s 102 total wins at the NCAA Division II level, including a member of both NSIC Championship teams and all three Mineral Water Bowl appearances, as both an athlete and a coach.
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He and his wife, Natalie, have two daughters, Laila and Layne, and a son, Tate.
Johansen Head Coach Year-by Year:
| Year(s) |
Institution |
Record (MVFCÂ Rec.) |
Season Notes |
| 2025 |
South Dakota |
|
|
| TOTALS |
South Dakota |
|
|
UPDATED DECEMBER 2024
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