The University of South Dakota athletic department introduced head men’s basketball coach Eric Peterson Wednesday afternoon. Peterson returns to South Dakota after previously serving as an assistant coach at Utah and Utah State. Prior to that, Peterson was an assistant coach at USD under Craig Smith from 2014-18. He is the 20th head coach in program history.
University of South Dakota Athletic Director David Herbster and President Sheila Gestring provided a speech before Peterson’s turn at the podium.
“President Gestring and I were extremely focused on the attributes and characteristics of what we were looking for in our next head men’s basketball coach, and Eric, without a doubt, checked all the boxes and more,” said Herbster. “Words like integrity, passion, character, accountability, teamwork, and confidence.”
“When we hire leadership positions on campus anywhere, especially in athletics, we hire a person of character, a person with a proven track record with significant experience, and someone who embodies what we are when we say ‘Coyote family’ and ‘Coyote values’ and lives that every single day,” said Gestring. “When we use that criteria, one name rose to the top – Eric Peterson was the clear choice.”
Peterson opened his speech with thanks and appreciation towards his family and those who have mentored him and developed his coaching attributes. When introducing his family one by one, nearly all had memories of Vermillion and were excited to be back in a place they call home.He then went into detail about his first time talking to the team.
“I think we have a great group of guys in our locker room, and we are really close to cutting down the nets in Sioux Falls,” said Peterson.
The team will be back in the gym on Monday for offseason work and will be the first time Peterson gets to see his new team in person.
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