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VERMILLION, S.D. \u2014\u00a0Head women’s soccer coach\u00a0Michael Thomas<\/a>\u00a0announced the addition of\u00a0Daniel\u00a0Brizard\u00a0as an assistant coach for\u00a0the Coyotes soccer program, heading into the 2026 season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Brizard\u00a0brings more than two decades of collegiate coaching experience to Vermillion, including four years as a head coach and 24 years as an assistant at the NCAA Division I level. Most recently, he spent the past six seasons as an assistant women’s soccer coach at\u00a0Fresno State (2019\u20132025).\u00a0 At Fresno State, Brizard served as the program’s goalkeeping and defensive specialist, working with the Bulldogs goalkeepers while organizing the defensive structure and coordinating defensive set pieces.\u00a0Brizard also coached two first team all Mountain West Team\u00a0defenders and in 2021 the Mountain West Defensive Player of the year.\u00a0\u00a0 “I would like to thank Coach Thomas for giving me this opportunity to join the USD family,” said Brizard.\u00a0“I am excited to work with the staff and the players and looking forward to helping them reach their goals.”\u00a0 In addition to\u00a0his\u00a0time\u00a0at Fresno State, Brizard has extensive experience across several Division I programs. His coaching stops include\u00a0Indiana University, the University of Rhode Island, Tennessee Tech University, Louisiana State University, Florida International University, the University of South Alabama, and the University of Missouri\u00a0St. Louis.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 During his career, he has worked primarily with goalkeepers and defensive units while contributing heavily to recruiting, player development, and program operations.\u00a0Brizard also served as\u00a0head women’s soccer coach at Tennessee Tech, gaining valuable experience leading a Division I program.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Brizard earned a\u00a0Bachelor of Science in Sports Performance from Berry College (Ga.) in 1995. He was a four-year starter and a team captain at Berry during his playing days.\u00a0He\u00a0is also\u00a0a\u00a0veteran of the United States Navy.<\/p>\n Brizard and his wife, Julie, have one daughter, Izabella.<\/p>\n _________________________________________________________________________________\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Stay up to date with all things Coyotes by following South Dakota Athletics on\u202fFacebook\u00a0\/SDCoyotes<\/a>, X (Twitter)\u00a0@SDCoyotes<\/a>, and Instagram\u00a0@sdcoyotes<\/a>!\u202f#GoYotes x #WeAreSouthDakota\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n“We are so excited to have Daniel\u00a0joining\u00a0the staff.\u00a0He brings\u00a0so\u00a0many experiences from varying levels of soccer that he stood out to our hiring committee\u00a0immediately, but what really shone through was his desire to help the student athletes,” said Thomas. “I believe that Daniel\u00a0is going to enhance the student-athlete experience at the University of South Dakota in\u00a0multiple\u00a0ways.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
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