| Current: | 2023–24 South Dakota Coyotes women's basketball team |
| South Dakota Coyotes | |
| University: | University of South Dakota |
| Conference: | Summit League |
| Location: | Vermillion, South Dakota |
| Coach: | Carrie Eighmey |
| Tenure: | 1st |
| Arena: | Sanford Coyote Sports Center |
| Capacity: | 6,000 |
| Nickname: | Coyotes |
| H Body: | AD0000 |
| H Pattern B: | _thinsidesonwhite |
| H Shorts: | AD0000 |
| H Pattern S: | _blanksides2 |
| A Body: | AD0000 |
| A Pattern B: | _thinwhitesides |
| A Shorts: | AD0000 |
| A Pattern S: | _whitesides |
| Ncaarunnerup: | 2008* |
| Ncaafinalfour: | 2008* |
| Ncaaeliteeight: | 2008* |
| Ncaasweetsixteen: | 1984*, 1985*, 2003*, 2008*, 2022 |
| Ncaasecondround: | 2003*, 2008*, 2022 |
| Ncaatourneys: | 1983*, 1984*, 1985*, 1989*, 2003*, 2004*, 2007*, 2008*, 2014, 2019, 2021, 2022 *at Division II level |
| Conference Tournament: | NCC: 1983, 1984, 1985, 2008 Summit League: 2014, 2020, 2021, 2022 |
| Conference Season: | NCC: 2003, 2008 Summit League: 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022 |
The South Dakota Coyotes women's basketball team represents the University of South Dakota in NCAA Division I basketball. They are currently members of the Summit League.[1]
As of the end of the 2022–23 season the Coyotes have a 890–559 all-time record, with play beginning in 1971. They won the North Central Conference regular season title in 1983, 1984, 1985, 2003, and finishing their time in NCC with a regular season and conference tournament win in 2008. South Dakota then made the transition from Division II to Division I with stops with the NCAA I Independents and the Great West Conference before settling in the Summit League. The Coyotes in the Summit League have won the regular season five times (2015, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022) then also have won the Summit League tournament four times (2014, 2020, 2021, 2022).[2] South Dakota made the NCAA tournament 10 times since joining the Division I. The NCAA four times (2014, 2019, 2019, 2022), the WNIT five times (2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) and the WBI twice (2011 and 2013).[3]
| Name | Term | Record (W–L) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Irene Mehnert | 1971–73 | 16–6 |
| 2 | Jean Jacobsen | 1973–76 | 22–28 |
| 3 | Mary Zimmerman | 1976–82 | 85–64 |
| 4 | Chad Lavin | 1982–86, 1998-08 | 273–139 |
| 5 | Fred Tibbetts | 1986–90, 1998 | 67–53 |
| 6 | Gary Larson | 1990–95 | 67–69 |
| 7 | Lynn Griffin | 1995–98 | 16–58 |
| 8 | 2008–12 | 76–47 | |
| 9 | 2012–16 | 96–44 | |
| 10 | 2016–22 | 158–36 | |
| 11 | 2022–present | 14–16 | |
The Coyotes have appeared in four NCAA Tournaments. Their record is 2–4.
| First round |
| L 62–81 | |
| 2019 |
| First round |
| L 66–79 |
| 2021 |
| First round |
| L 47–67 |
| 2022 |
| First round Second Round Sweet Sixteen | W 75–61 W 61–47 L 49–52 | |
The Coyotes have appeared in five WNIT Tournaments. Their record is 12–4.
| 2012 | First round Second Sround | Drake Colorado | W 61–53 L 55–64 | |
| 2015 | First round Second Round | Creighton Northern Colorado | W 68–58 L 58–59 | |
| 2016 | First round Second Round Third round Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship Game | Creighton Minnesota Northern Iowa Western Kentucky Oregon Florida Gulf Coast | W 74–68 W 101–89 W 51–50 W 68–54 W 88–54 W 71–65 | |
| 2017 | First round Second Round | North Dakota Iowa | W 78–55 L 73–78 | |
| 2018 | First round Second Round Third round Quarterfinals | Houston Colorado State Michigan State TCU | W 65–58 W 74–49 W 85–83 (OT) L 71–79 |
The Coyotes have appeared in 2 WBI Tournaments. Their record is 3–2.
| 2011 | First round Quarterfinals | Idaho Cal State Bakersfield | W 62-47 L 64-90 | |
| 2013 | First round Quarterfinals Semifinals | Utah State Lamar McNeese State | W 77-69 W 71-48 L 63-71 |
The Coyotes made eight appearances in the NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament. They had a combined record of 8–8.
| 1983 | First round | Texas A&I | L, 71–81 | |
| 1984 | First round Regional Finals | North Dakota St. Cloud State | W 49–48 L 55–66 | |
| 1985 | Regional Finals | St. Cloud State | L 55–56 | |
| 1989 | First round | North Dakota State | L 71–72 (OT) | |
| 2003 | First round Regional semifinals Regional Finals | Concordia-St. Paul North Dakota State South Dakota State | W 83–68 W 84–61 L 63–87 | |
| 2004 | First round | North Dakota State | L 63–70 | |
| 2007 | First round | Concordia-St. Paul | L 74–82 | |
| 2008 | First round Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight Final Four National Championship | CSU Pueblo Nebraska–Kearney Minnesota State Washburn Delta State Northern Kentucky | W 66–55 W 59–48 W 61–49 W 85–80 (2OT) W 68–58 L 58–63 |