Aug. 15—VERMILLION — In his third season with the University of South Dakota football coaching staff, Tim Morrison is stepping into a familiar role with new beginnings and high aspirations.
After two seasons guiding the South Dakota tight ends (2023-24), the new offensive coordinator brings both multiplicity and a renewed edge to an offensive unit looking to turn last year’s success into a sustainable product.
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“It’s been fun to get back into the play-calling role,” Morrison said. “It’s been a couple of years since I have done it, so it’s been fun to get back into that mindset of just how we can continue to build on our offensive success.”
Morrison was named to become USD’s offensive coordinator in December, and is eager to call plays once again after past coaching stints directing collegiate offenses.
Prior to joining the Coyotes coaching staff in the spring of 2023, Morrison served as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Upper Iowa University for the 2021 and 2022 campaigns, a Division II program in Fayette, Iowa.
Before Upper Iowa, Morrison spent 10 seasons at Division II powerhouse Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan, joining the staff as the offensive line and tight ends coach. In Morrison’s final five seasons with GVSU, he served as the offensive coordinator and, in those seasons, made three trips to the NCAA Division II playoffs.
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Morrison takes over the play calling from Josh Davis, who left to become offensive coordinator under former North Dakota State coach Matt Entz at Fresno State. Morrison said his previous stints as the offensive coordinator with those universities has him set and ready to take charge with hopes of keeping the Coyote offense at a steady trajectory.
“The past experiences help just how to build a game plan, how to help our kids have success, and really at the end of the day, trying to put our kids in positions to be successful,” Morrison said. “Obviously, we’ve had a lot of success here recently, so try not to crash the car, right?”
In his time as the South Dakota tight ends, Morrison coached the likes of first team All-American JJ Galbreath (2024) in both of his seasons. Galbreath combined for more than 1,000 yards and nine touchdown receptions in his two seasons under Morrison.
Though Morrison is the new offensive coordinator, he is still the tight ends coach for the 2025 campaign.
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Morrison has been working with senior captain quarterback Aidan Bouman more extensively throughout the spring, summer and fall camp, and has put the offense together with him in mind.
“When he decided to come back, it was a huge day for us as a program, and just from a leadership perspective on the offensive side,” Morrison said. “I’ve really enjoyed working with him, just really building out the offense together. In addition with coach (Matt) Vitzthum, our co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, the three of us are really working together and building packages that he feels the most confident in.”
The Coyotes enter the 2025 campaign at No. 4 in the preseason FCS football media poll, coming off a record-breaking 2024 season. USD made its first-ever appearance in the FCS playoffs semifinals and ended the year with an 11-3 record and a share of the MVFC title a season ago.
Now, with the season opener inching closer against the 2024 Big 12 runner-up, Iowa State Cyclones, on Saturday, Aug. 30, the Yotes have some work to do in a short amount of time.
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“We talk on the offensive side of the ball about sticking to our process every single day,” Morrison said. “We’re coming out here, stacking days, improving our best on a daily basis, and really focusing on the things we can control. I think if we continue to do that day-by-day, the game will be here before we know it and we’re excited to compete.”
