Dustan Hovorka, one of the all-time great receivers in University of Sioux Falls school history, is serving his third year as the offensive coordinator for the Cougars football program. In his seventh overall season on the USF staff, Hovorka is continuing to make excellence the standard.
In 2015, the nationally ranked Cougars was one of the best in the nation, ranking in the top 20 in 10 individual or team offensive categories. As a result the Cougars finished 9-3 for a 22nd straight winning seasons. Hovorka's offensive unit helped the team to continue its run of 23 consecutive weeks ranked nationally on the way to earning a second straight appearance in the postseason. For the first time in school history, USF earned a berth in the NCAA DII playoffs (23-16 loss to Henderson State). The Cougars, which finished ranked #17 in the D2football.com poll and #21 in the AFCA final polls, are 20-4 in his two seasons as OC. USF was ranked as high as #4 by D2football.com.
USF’s offensive line allowed a nation’s best five sacks and ranked 11th in third down conversions at 48.2 percent. In total offense, the Cougars ranked 19th in DII and third in the NSIC at 472.1 yards per game. Hovorka’s offense helped USF finished 17th in DII and third in the NSIC in scoring offense at 39.3 points per game. USF was 16th nationally and second in the league in first downs with 28l.5.
In addition, Antonio Green, who was named a first team All-American by Lindy’s Sports Magazine, Hero Sports and Football GamePlan, was named an NSIC first team honoree for the second straight year while quarterback Luke Papilion was selected second team with his second NSIC honor. In addition, H-back Brady Rose, tight end Nicholas Stanke and offensive lineman Trevor Wescott were named All-league while Josh Angulo was named honorable mention All-NSIC.
Green was a nominee for the Gene Upshaw lineman of the year award while Papilion earned his second straight nomination for the Harlon Hill Award. For the second straight year Papilion was the NSIC total offense leader as he also ranked 10th nationally at 336.5 yards per game. He was 10th in the nation and first in the NSIC in rushing yards per carry at 7.0 and eighth in DII and first in the league in points responsible for with 222. He also was 16th nationally and first in the NSIC in points responsible for per game at 18.5. In passing TDs, Papilion ranked 12th in the country and first in the league with 30 while his passing yards of 3,184 ranked 19th in DII and third overall.
In his first season as offensive coordinator, Hovorka directed one of the most explosive offenses not only in the NSIC but in NCAA DII. The Cougars, which finished 11-1 and #16/18 nationally in 2014, ranked first in the NSIC and seventh nationally at 42.7 points (512) per game, or nearly 10 points more than 2013 (33.0, 363 points). Overall, Hovorka’s offense produced 58 TDs, including 30 rushing (fourth in the NSIC) and 28 passing (tied for fourth in the NSIC). The 58 TDs was 11 more than 2013.
In total offense, the Cougars were 17th in NCAA DII and second in the NSIC with 483.2 yards per game. USF was 32nd nationally and fourth in the NSIC with 213.3 yards per game, led by the Nephi Garcia, who went over 1,000 yards (1,190 yards, 5th NSIC) rushing for the second straight season. USF, which also received 804 yards from quarterback Luke Papilion, averaged 4.6 yards per carry with 2,559 yards on 560 carries. Led by Papilion, USF was sixth with 269.9 passing yards per game (3,239 yards). USF’s completion percentage of 64.0 percent was first in the league and 14th in DII. In terms of first downs, Hovorka’s offense produced 292 for third in the league.
Leading Hovorka’s explosive offense was the NSIC’s Offensive Player of the Year Luke Papilion (153-804-6 TDs rushing; 227-361-2,779-26 TDs), who was a Harlon Hill candidate (D2 Player of the Year), named first-team All-NSIC and garnered fourth team All-American honors (Beyondsports.com) as a sophomore. Also earning first-team All-NSIC honors was sophomore offensive tackle Antonio Green, senior Nephi Garcia (227-1,190-18 TDs) at running while standout junior wide receiver Josh Angulo (61-891-12 TDs) was a second team selection. Angulo was part of a receiving corps that provided 270 catches, 3,239 yards and 28 TDs. The leading receiver was Brady Rose with 62 receptions for 772 yards and six TDs while junior Garrett Shutt had 47 catches for 533 yards and three TDs. As a trio, the group accounted 170 catches, 2,166 yards and 21 TDs. In addition offensive tackles Terry Huber and Jesse Springer were named honorable mention All-NSIC.
In the 6-5 season of 2013, Hovorka was in charge of the receivers and part of an offense that ranked sixth in the NSIC in scoring at 33.0 ppg while sitting seventh in pass offense with 222.0 yards per game. USF receivers had 208 receptions for 2,442 yards and 16 TDs. Both Austin Vanhove and Carrington Hanna hauled in 44 receptions.
Hovorka’s 2012 receivers were among the most explosive in the nation. The duo of Carrington Hanna and Jeremiah Oates produced more than 1,800 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns for USF’s passing attack that ranked sixth in the NSIC last season. Additionally, they each ranked in the top three of the conference for receptions, yards per game, yards per catch and scoring. Nationally, Oates was 27th in receiving yards, while Hanna was 30th in receptions per game.
The 2012 Cougar receivers turned 46 receptions into gains of 25 yards or more, 15 of which resulted in a score. Hanna and Oates each earned Don Hansen All-Region and NSIC All-Conference honors.
USF’s receiving core reloaded in 2011 and had another productive season under Hovorka’s direction. His unit combined to average 14 yards per reception which resulted in several game-changing plays. Total, 15 players recorded a reception for the Cougars, and nine of those players recorded a catch of 20 yards or more.
In 2010, Hovorka coached AFCA All-American wide receiver Jon Ryan to a record-setting season. Ryan finished the season nationally ranked No. 1 in scoring (144 points) and No. 3 in receptions (81) and total yards (1,430 receiving yards). His performance earned him GPAC Offensive Player of Year, College Fanz Offensive Player of the Year and NAIA Player of the Year. In total, Hovorka tutored 3 GPAC all-conference receivers during the 2010 season.
As the Cougar's top receiver from 2003-2006, Hovorka set career school records in receptions (291), receiving yards (4,801) and receiving touchdowns (55, 58 overall). He was also a difference maker in USF's 2006 National Championship run with 76 catches for 1,304 yards and a school record 18 receiving TDs (19 overall). He had four of the top-10 receiving totals in school history with 66 in 2003, 76 in 2004, 73 in 2005 and 76 in 2006. He also had four of the top seven receiving totals in Cougar history with 1,174 (6th) in 2003, 1,191 (4th) in 2004, 1,191 (4th) in 2005 and 1,304 (third) in 2006. A three-time All-American, he is the only receiver in school history to record 1,000 yards or more in all four of his seasons at USF.
Following his career with the Cougars, Hovorka played six seasons as a standout receiver for the Sioux Falls Storm in the IFL. He retired to become a full-time coach in 2011.
In high school, he was named to the Argus Leader Elite 45 as a wide receiver/free safety for Dakota Valley. At DV, he was part of a state runner-up squad that fell to Webster, 16-15. He was also all-conference in basketball.
This summer, Hovorka was married to Kari Keating.
