South Dakota State head football coach Dan Jackson announced on Wednesday the addition of three new assistant coaches for the team’s offensive unit.
Joining Jackson’s inaugural Jackrabbit coaching staff are:
- Eric Eidsness as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach
- Vince Benedetto as the tight ends coach
- Deontae Cooper as the running backs coach
Jackson expressed enthusiasm for the creativity and unique strategies these coaches will bring while maintaining much of the existing offensive scheme and terminology for the players. “We’re not going to skip a beat,” he stated.
These hires represent Jackson’s first appointments since being named the 22nd head coach in the program’s history on December 31.
Jackson acknowledged the essential support from the university administration and local community in facilitating these initial hires. “The standards of success we’ve achieved in the past will continue, and I am grateful for the opportunity to drive this program forward.”
ERIC EIDSNESS
Eidsness has had two previous stints as the Jackrabbits’ offensive coordinator—first from 1999 to 2003 during their NCAA Division II days, and again from 2010 to 2018. Under his guidance, the Jackrabbits made seven consecutive appearances in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, including two semifinal appearances in 2017 and 2018. He also served as associate head coach under John Stiegelmeier from 2015 to 2018.
“Eric brings a wealth of experience on offense, and I’m thrilled to have someone from South Dakota who understands the history and future of Jackrabbit football,” Jackson remarked. Eidsness played a key role in shaping the offensive strategies over the past decade, influencing the style that subsequent coordinators adopted.
During Eidsness’s previous tenures, the Jackrabbits set numerous school records for scoring and total offense, including 521 and 553 points in 2017 and 2018, respectively. He has coached some of the program’s top players, including all-time leading rushers Josh Ranek and Zach Zenner, as well as notable passers and record-setting receivers.
Most recently, Eidsness spent six seasons at Northern Illinois in similar coaching roles, where the team participated in three bowl games, achieving victories in both the 2023 Camilla Bowl and the most recent Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
A native of Sioux Falls, Eidsness served as head coach at Southwest Minnesota State from 2004 to 2009.
VINCE BENEDETTO
Benedetto, a former Jackrabbit tight end, returns to Brookings after a successful career as a high school coach in South Dakota.
“Vince excelled as a player and early in his coaching career as a graduate assistant, before leading one of the top high school programs in the state,” Jackson noted. “His experience in South Dakota and Illinois will benefit our program moving forward.”
For the past four seasons, Benedetto has served as head coach at Sioux Falls Jefferson High School, achieving a 29-14 record and winning the 2022 Class 11AAA state championship in the program’s second year. He previously coached at West Central High School, where he led the team to two state semifinal appearances.
Originally from Crystal Lake, Illinois, Benedetto played for the Jackrabbits from 2010 to 2013 before starting his coaching career at SDSU as a graduate assistant in 2014.
DEONTAE COOPER
Cooper will take charge of the Jackrabbit running backs after working in the same capacity at Idaho during the 2024 season.
“Deontae brings a high-energy coaching style, and I was very impressed with his ability to develop running backs at Idaho last year,” Jackson said. “He has played at elite levels, and I am excited for him to share those experiences with our staff.”
Between 2019 and 2023, Cooper served as head coach at Highline High School in Burien, Washington, where his teams went undefeated in league play for three straight seasons, advancing to the Class 2A state semifinals in 2022 and the quarterfinals in 2023.
Cooper faced several injuries during his time at the University of Washington but managed to accumulate 555 rushing yards and three touchdowns during his time there. He also served as a team captain and earned a tryout with the Oakland Raiders before launching his coaching career as a recruiting assistant at Washington in 2017.
ABOUT SDSU
South Dakota State finished the 2024 season with a 12-3 overall record and shared the Missouri Valley Football Conference title. The Jackrabbits celebrated consecutive Football Championship Subdivision national titles in 2022 and 2023 and are entering the 2025 season with a streak of 13 straight postseason appearances.
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