🏈 MVFC Media Day: Four New Coaches, Four Sets of Expectations

A new era is underway in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, with four new head coaches stepping into high-profile roles ahead of the 2025 season. At media day, the sense of transition was palpable, not just with fresh faces on rosters, but with new leadership on the sidelines and a new MVFC commissioner overseeing it all.

🔄 Changing of the Guard

Veteran MVFC coaches Mark Farley (UNI), Bob Nielson (USD), and Bubba Schweigert (UND) have stepped away from their programs, and Jimmy Rogers (SDSU) departed to take the head coaching job at Washington State. Now, four new head coaches are tasked with leading their programs forward, each facing unique expectations.

🐰 National Title or Bust: SDSU's Dan Jackson

Inertia Sports Media / Dave Eggen

The transition at South Dakota State hasn’t changed the program’s mindset. Dan Jackson, a former SDSU grad assistant and defensive backs coach, returns with one clear goal: another national title.

“The standard of South Dakota State is always going to be to win a national championship,” Jackson said.

Jackson referenced the Jackrabbits’ rise from gritty underdogs to FCS kings and says that mentality will continue to drive the team forward.

🐺 Hungry for More: USD's Travis Johansen

https://x.com/SDCoyotesFB/status/1880015157319135595

At South Dakota, Travis Johansen also made it clear: championship expectations remain unchanged.

“Nothing that happened in the offseason deters us... we’re chasing the very best.”

Johansen emphasized continuity, confidence, and a hunger within the team to build on recent success, despite the coaching change.

🟢 Familiar Face, New Role: UND’s Eric Schmidt

https://x.com/UNDfootball/status/1865969879804690636

Eric Schmidt steps into the head coaching role at North Dakota, replacing mentor Bubba Schweigert, a man he both played for and coached under.

“He's one of... the top three or four mentors in my life,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt aims to lead UND back to the FCS playoffs and is already seeing momentum in both player development and recruiting.

🐾 Legacy & Pressure: UNI's Todd Stepsis

https://x.com/UNIFootball/status/1868703123604144259

The most high-profile coaching handoff comes at Northern Iowa, where Todd Stepsis takes over for Mark Farley, an FCS icon with 182 wins over 24 seasons.

“How do we create a new legacy?” Stepsis asked.

Previously head coach at Drake, Stepsis inherits a program rich in tradition and is focused on honoring UNI’s past while building something new.

✍️ Final Thoughts

While the expectations differ across the board, each of the four new head coaches enters the MVFC with a clear mission, whether it’s continuing dominance, rebuilding momentum, or carving a new path forward. As the 2025 season approaches, all eyes will be on these fresh faces to see how they shape the future of Valley football.