Broadcaster Press 05 December 6, 2011 www.broadcasteronline.com Beschorner takes charge O-C holds down post as USD looks for head coach By Jeremy Hoeck jeremy.hoeck@yankton.net Wes Beschorner is usually a busy man this time of year. But now, he’s got a lot more on his plate. The 29-year-old former quarterback and third-year offensive coordinator was appointed the interim head football coach at the University of South Dakota on Wednesday, Nov. 23, a day after Ed Meierkort was fired. Beschorner now inherits the responsibility of guiding the Division I football program through the prime recruiting months, on top of his normal off-season duties. And that doesn’t even include his expressed interest in applying for the job on a permanent basis. “We just want to sell the University of South Dakota to recruits, and the good thing is, it sells itself,” Beschorner said Friday from his office in the DakotaDome. “The success we have is based on the kids we continue to get, but the program will be here a lot longer than any one person. “Being an alum, for me, that’s more important than any one person’s glory,” he added. “It’s about getting the right kids here.” The Iowa native finished his sixth season as an assistant, third as offensive coordinator, at USD this season, where he guided the Great West Conference’s second-best rushing offense (158.2 yards). With Beschorner calling a majority of the plays, the Coyotes scored a touchdown in all but one game – this season at Illinois State – over the last three seasons. Arguably the biggest performance in that span was a 41-38 upset of Big Ten Conference member Minnesota in 2010. Still, Beschorner said he is well aware of the challenges ahead. NCAA signing day is two months away, Feb. 1, 2012, and the Coyote coaching staff will have to not only reassure committed recruits but will have to convince potential recruits that the program is headed in the right direction. “Whoever ends up getting the job, you’ll feel like you’re behind in recruiting no matter what,” Beschorner said. “The assistants have done a good Here to Serve Your Insurance Needs • Full Service Agency - Offering All Lines of Insurance. • Independent - Representing Many Excellent Companies. • Locally Owned & Operated. • Stability - Since 1944. • Experience - Including 5 Licensed Insurance Agents. • Very Competitive. • Competent - Friendly - Courteous. Working For You job identifying guys we think belong here and can help us win. Kids will be told a bunch of different things about USD, but the bottom line is we’re 40-5 at home. “That’s got a lot to do with the coaches here on staff and the ones who have been here before.” Following the Nov. 22 decision by athletic director David Sayler to not renew Meierkort’s contract, the remainder of the USD coaching staff was retained to guide the program through the recruiting process. The news of Meierkort’s firing was a bit surprising to those on staff, Beschorner said. “From the beginning, when Ed told me, I was a little bit in shock,” he said. “It was one of those things where you felt like one or two more wins and it’s darn near impossible to make changes, especially knowing where we’re at and where we came from.” When Beschorner got to USD in the fall of 2001, the Coyotes were coming off an 8-3 season under former coach John Austin. Over the next three years, the program had a record of 10-22 before Meierkort was hired after the 2003 season. With Beschorner as the starting quarterback, USD posted back-to-back 9-2 records in 2004 and 2005, and clinched a share of the North Central Conference title in 2005. “When I got to school here, USD football was not South Dakota offensive coordinator Wes Beschorner talks to quarterback Dante Warren, 2, during a Coyote home game this past season. Beschorner, the 29-year-old former Coyote QB who has been a USD assistant coach for six seasons, was named the interim head coach after head coach Ed Meierkort was told his contract will not be renewed. (P&D File Photo) that relevant; hadn’t had much success at all,” Beschorner said. “So, to get that turned around in the next 10 years and to be ranked in the top 25 for 10 straight weeks (this season), I have a lot of pride in that.” That feeling is shared by those players who have eligibility remaining with the Coyotes, Beschorner said. “Our guys, from the day we recruited them and ever since, are resilient young men; they fight through a lot of stuff,” he said. “We’ve had to go through a lot of different things here. We’ve su|do|ku © 2008 KrazyDad.com Fill the puzzle so that every row, every column, and every section contain the numbers 1-9 without repeating a number 4 8 2 9 7 3 6 7 7 6 4 3 5 8 1 Let Us Earn Your Business! 5 6 6 3 9 Check today’s issue for the solution to the puzzle. 124 N. 3rd St., Beresford, SD 763-2675 or 1-800-658-3539 www.jensenagencyonline.com WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE Paying $200 & up Cars • Pick-ups • Trucks • Trailers Call The Car Crushing King 605.202.0899 Elk Point, South Dakota 9 9 BACK: ZACH JENSEN, MARK JENSEN MIDDLE: BRAD ANTONSON, ANGIE TWEDT, KATE ERICKSON, BRAD BAK FRONT: HEATHER IVARSEN, PAM BERG, NATALIE JOHNSON help this football team to get to the point of true success in every way.’” Though Sayler wasn’t in his office Friday, the second-year athletic director made clear earlier this week that a national search for a head coach will begin immediately. In the meantime, Beschorner was adament in his interest for the job. “I’d like to continue that success we’ve had,” he said. “It’s something I feel I’ve helped start in a small way; you have to have that sense of pride. Everyone’s got that. With me personally, I feel like I’d be a great fit, but that’s obviously very biased on my part.” FARMLAND FOR SALE 8 2 played every different kind of team in every different atmosphere, and had some success.” Beschorner didn’t shy away from USD’s lateseason struggles, saying that will be a point of improvement for those players coming back. 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