SDSU's DeHaven Named Summit League Coach of Year
South Dakota State's Rod DeHaven earned the honor after the Jackrabbits won their 11th straight Summit League cross country title.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Track & Field
South Dakota State head coach Rod DeHaven was named Summit League Cross Country Men's Coach of the Year. The Jackrabbits also won a league-record 11th consecutive Summit League cross country title at the meet held Saturday in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Why it matters
The award marks the 15th time DeHaven has earned Summit League Coach of the Year honors in his 22 seasons leading SDSU. The championship run places the program's men's cross country team in position to compete at the NCAA Midwest Regionals.
The Summit League's official results show all five Jackrabbit scorers placed in the top 10, while no other team had more than two top-10 finishers. How the squad fares at the NCAA Midwest Regionals, where it is ranked No. 12 in the Midwest Region, remains to be seen.
The players
Rod DeHaven
DeHaven is SDSU's head coach for track and field and cross country, having led the program for 22 seasons and earned Summit League Coach of the Year honors 15 times.
South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University is a public university in Brookings, South Dakota, and a member of the Summit League athletic conference.
The details
DeHaven's Jackrabbits won the title Saturday in St. Paul, Minnesota, with all five scorers sophomores or juniors finishing in the top 10. The men's program now heads to the NCAA Midwest Regionals in Ames, Iowa, on Friday, Nov. 13.
Timeline
Saturday: SDSU wins its 11th consecutive Summit League cross country title in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Week of Nov. 4: DeHaven is named Summit League Cross Country Men's Coach of the Year.
Friday, Nov. 13: SDSU competes at the NCAA Midwest Regionals in Ames, Iowa.
Season Trajectory
South Dakota State's 11th consecutive Summit League cross country title extends a run of conference dominance that now spans more than a decade. The result strengthens the program's standing heading into the NCAA Midwest Regionals, where a top-eight finish is the stated goal.
The Jackrabbits' top-10 finishers are sophomores and juniors, which gives the group better odds of contending again next season. For fantasy and collegiate sports followers, the Midwest Regionals on Nov. 13 is the next checkpoint for the program.
The takeaway
DeHaven's 15th Coach of the Year honor reflects a sustained run of competitive success that depends on developing young runners who can keep the program near the top of the conference. Watching how the sophomores and juniors perform at the NCAA Midwest Regionals will show whether that depth translates beyond the league.
What happens next
South Dakota State's men's cross country team competes at the NCAA Midwest Regionals in Ames, Iowa, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the state's athletic programs, see Track & Field coverage across South Dakota.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Brookings Register.
