Josh Snyder serves as Director of Athletics at the University of Sioux Falls from 2014 to 2018. Snyder was named to the post in April 2014.
During his tenure, USF Athletics has finished at least seventh or better during four straight years in the NSIC All Sports standings. During 2017-18, USF finished a program-best fourth in the NSIC All-Sports standings.
The facility upgrades included a reshaped and state-of-the-art USF Sports and Fitness Center, which was made possible through a major gift from an anonymous University of Sioux Falls donor.
Under Snyder's direction, USF has won two athletic titles, including the 2016 NSIC Football Championship. The football title in 2016 was the first regular season crown in school history. In 2015-16, the USF Women's Basketball Team won the NSIC Tournament title, a first in school history. In addition, four student-athletes have won individual national titles in the pole vault (track and field).
Success in competition is just one part of achievement under the stewardship of Snyder. The USF student-athletes have been active in service and in the classroom. Of note, USF has had 90 or more student-athletes honored as D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award recipients in back-to-back years in 2017 and 2018. In both years, USF ranked first (2016-17) and second (2017-18) among NSIC institutions and in the top-30 nationally.
In 2017-18, USF tied a school record with 14 senior student-athletes earning recognition as recipients of the NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Awards. It was the second straight year that USF had 14 student-athletes earn the prestigious award (3.75 GPA).
Another significant milestone under Snyder's watch was being honored in November, 2017 for the third consecutive year as recipient of the prestigious Presidents' Award for Academic Excellence as a result of achieving an Academic Success Rate of over 90 percent. USF, which had an academic success rate of 93 percent, was the only NSIC institution to be recognized three straight years and one of two in the league (Concordia St. Paul) to earn the special recognition in 2017. Overall, USF was one of 32 NCAA Division II member schools honored as part of the Presidents' Award for Academic Excellence program for achieving four-year Academic Success Rates of 90 percent or higher. USF's rate of 93 percent was a jump of two percentage points (91 percent) over the rate of the previous two years (2015, 2016).
During 2017-18, the USF Football Team, directed by Jon Anderson, reached the NCAA playoffs for a third straight year. It was the football team's fourth straight postseason appearance, which all have come during Snyder's time at USF.
In 2017-18, the USF Men's Basketball Team, directed by head coach Chris Johnson, recorded 20 wins for the first time at the NCAA DII level.
The Swimming Team had a top-25 finish (21st, 51 points) at the NCAA DII Championships in just the program's second year. Freshman Cassie Wright led the way by recording two first team All-American honors with a pair of top-three finishes. In addition, the USF Swimming Team had the top GPA among all DII institutions.
Mason Phillips became USF's second-ever NSIC Cross Country champion and also captured a regional crown before finishing 15th (all-time best at USF) at nationals to earn All-American honors. Directed by Track and Field/Cross Country Program Director, USF was third at the NSIC Cross Country Championships and reached the NCAA DII National Championships as a team for the third time in five seasons.
In Women's Track and Field, Kimberley Peterson earned All-American honors after finished national runner-up in the pole vault at the NCAA DII Indoor Championships.
Lexi Hanson of the USF Women's Golf Team advanced to the NCAA DII Regionals to become just the second golfer in school history to reach that level of competition.
During the 2016 season, the USF Football Team reached the "Sweet 16" of the NCAA DII Championships. The Cougars hosted and won the first-ever DII playoff game held at Bob Young Field. During that season, USF was 11-0 in the NSIC as the team won the school's first-ever NSIC regular season championship, regardless of sport. USF finished 12-1 and ranked No. 8 in the final AFCA national poll. The team had a record 24 student-athletes named to the All-NSIC Team and three individuals were named to All-American squads.
Also during 2016-17, the USF Women's Basketball Team reached the championship game of the NSIC Tournament for a second straight year during a 22-8 season.
In track and field in the spring of 2017, both Scott Greenman and Courtney Crandall captured individual indoor national championships in the pole vault. As a result of their performances, USF placed ninth in the men's team standings and 21st in the women's team standings at the NCAA DII Indoor National Championships.
In 2015-16, the Cougars had another successful year as a department. For the first time, the USF Women's Basketball Team won a league postseason tournament title by defeating city rival Augustana, 75-57, in the championship game. As a result, USF, directed by head coach Travis Traphagen, received the program's first-ever NCAA DII women's basketball national tournament berth while setting a school record for wins during the 27-6 campaign.
In 2015, the USF Football Team finished 9-3 and earned the program's first-ever NCAA DII playoff berth. USF ranked in the top-25 in both national polls. Solomon St. Pierre earned nine postseason and preseason All-American Awards to finish with 16 for his career. The Cougars were ranked as high as #4 in DII and finished second in the league standings.
In 2015-16, Men's Basketball Team finished 17-13 with its first-ever appearance in the quarterfinals of the NSIC Postseason Tourney. Junior Mack Johnson became USF's first-ever men's player named to the all NSIC first team.
The Softball Team finished with 30 wins (34-20) for the third straight year. Shannon Daly became USF's first DII All-American in softball by being named to the NFCA's third team.
The USF Track and Field Team had a record-breaking year by sending 12 pole vaulters to nationals (indoor and outdoor combined) with nine earning All-American honors. At the outdoor nationals, USF sent seven vaulters to the championships, tying a DII record held by Grand Valley State for largest pole vault contingent to make nationals. For the USF women's team, Kimberley Peterson finished fourth in DII with Courtney Crandall fifth at the championships. Meanwhile, the men's vaulters also excelled with Jaggar Gran taking fourth at nationals with Scott Greenman, sixth; Chase Jensen, ninth; and Jacob Zebedee, 10th. In the indoor nationals, Zebedee took sixth for All-American honors in the men's competition while Sophie Harano was fourth and Megan Muller, 12th, to earn All-American honors for the women's team.
With Dylan Gavin earning All-NSIC honors, the USF Baseball Team set a program mark with 21 wins as they earned their way to the NSIC Tournament for the first time.
In men's cross country, the Cougars took second for a third straight year.
USF had 148 student-athletes named to Academic All-NSIC Team with eight others selected for the NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Award.
Matt Horan of the USF Men's Cross Country/Track and Field squad was named the 32nd recipient of the NSIC's Dr. William Britton Scholar-Athlete Award. He was the second USF student-athlete in three years named as the NSIC top male student-athlete by the NSIC.
Brady Rose and John Tidwell of the USF Football Team earned second team Academic All-America honors. Luke Papilion in football and Courtney Crandall in women's track and field were named national athletes of the week.
Among the new initiatives under Snyder's leadership was the rebranding of the Stewart Center as well as facility development. The 10-year old turf at Bob Young Field was replaced with Astroturf. The new soy-based turf was part of the rebranding of the football stadium with USF logos and create a greater Cougar presence.
At the Stewart Center, a new air handling system, including air conditioning, was put in place. In addition, USF added other rebranding initiatives, which energized USF's game day environment and look.
Also, USF added another sport with the announcement of the women's swimming and diving program this spring. The program began competition in the 2016-17 year, directed by new head coach Jon MacColl.
In spring 2014, the department unveiled a new booster club, called “Cougar Pride Club,” with the intent of increasing support for USF Athletics, specifically student-athlete scholarships.
As for the success of student-athletes, USF finished sixth in the NSIC Cup Standings as the Cougars again improved its overall point total from a year ago. In 2014-15, the Cougars had three teams finish second in the league, including men’s golf, men’s cross country and men’s indoor track and field. USF football was ranked as high as #10 nationally in an 11-1 season.
USF had 143 student-athletes named to Academic All-NSIC teams with 13 selected for the NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Award. Both the Academic All-NSIC and Myles Brand award totals ranked second in the league.
Topping the academic performances were USF’s Athletes of the Year Billy Brockmueller and Tavia Rutherford, who both earned Elite 89 Awards -- presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA’s 89 championships.
During 2014-15, USF had 54 student-athletes received all-league honors. Six student-athletes earned special recognition from the league, including USF sophomore Luke Papilion, who became USF’s first-ever NSIC Football Offensive Player of the Year. Other student-athletes to receive league honors include junior Jagger Gran, Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year; senior Bobby Brockmueller, Cross Country Athlete of the Year, and Tavia Rutherford, the NSIC Women’s Golfer of the Year. Jase Kraft of Men’s Track and Field and Danielle Walker of Softball were named NSIC Newcomers of the Year.
USF Cross Country finished second place in both the league and regional championships before finishing a program-best eighth at the NCAA DII nationals. Also in cross country, Bobby Brockmueller became the school’s first-ever league champion when he captured the men’s individual title at Wayne, Neb. His twin brother Billy picked up his second straight All-American honor while also receiving his third Elite 89 Award, the most by any in NSIC or USF history.
The Men’s Indoor Track and Field team was second at the NSIC Championships as the Cougars won six indoor titles, including domination of the pole vault. In that event, USF took the five top spots, led by champion Scott Greenman, who set an NSIC meet record by going 17’0.5 inches. USF won both the men’s and women’s pole vault titles as freshman Kimberly Peterson took home the women’s crown. At the indoor nationals, Jaggar Gran won the men’s first-ever DII national title by taking home the top spot in the pole vault. With Greenman placing sixth, both vaulters each captured All-America honors.
In football, USF finished with an 11-1 record and earned top-20 rankings in two national polls. USF was #16 in the D2football.com ranking and #18 by the AFCA Coaches Poll. In addition, the Cougars won the school’s first ever postseason game in DII as they ran past the MIAA’s Central Oklahoma, 42-10 in the Mineral Water Bowl. From an individual standpoint, 14 Cougars were recognized as part of the NSIC All-League Team, including Papilion, who became USF’s first ever league MVP on offense. Junior Solomon St. Pierre earned six first-team All-American honors while Papilion was a fourth team All-American and John Tidwell was honorable mention All-America.
The Volleyball Team, directed by head coach Joel McCartney, recorded a DII-best 11 wins (11-9) in the NSIC a year ago. The also advanced to the NSIC/US Bank Conference Tourney for a second straight year in one of the elite leagues in NCAA DII.
For the second straight year, the Softball Team won 30 games and advanced to the NSIC Tournament. USF, which finished 32-23, not only recorded the program’s first-ever win at the NSIC Championships but recorded three wins to advance to the semifinals. Two Cougars earned all-tournament honors, while four were named all-league.
In women’s basketball, head coach Travis Traphagen’s team opened 9-0 and finished 17-10.
In women's outdoor track and field, senior Katlyn Sawtelle earned the school’s first outdoor All-American honors in the heptathlon (combined events) as she set a school record at nationals.
USF also successfully hosted their first-ever NSIC Championship with the Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the USF Sports Complex in the spring.
Snyder served a three-year term on the NCAA Men's Golf Regional Athletic Committee. He was the administrative sports liaison to the NSIC Athletic Administrators for cross country and track and field while serving on the officiating committee.
Prior to coming to USF, Snyder served as senior associate athletics director for compliance and development at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He had moved to UMKC from Boise State University, where he served as executive director for NCAA compliance after serving at Iowa State University in three senior athletic leadership positions.
From 2001-2003, Snyder was an associate and assistant athletics director at the University of South Dakota and an assistant in compliance at the University of Nebraska Omaha. He received a Bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports sciences from ISU and earned his Juris Doctor degree from Creighton University School of Law.
At UMKC, Snyder was responsible for the daily operations of the Kangaroos’ athletic compliance office to ensure strict adherence with university, conference and NCAA rules and regulations for amateurism, eligibility, recruiting, financial aid, awards and benefits. He also worked with athletic academic advisors to create and maintain compliance monitoring mechanisms that supported all 16 teams.
At Boise State, Snyder served as a senior staff member for the compliance department. He began his appointment with Iowa State in 2003 as the director of compliance and moved up the ranks and was named assistant athletics director in two years.
During his time at Iowa State, Snyder was part of a Cyclone administrative staff that led an unparalleled rise in varsity sports. Iowa State set institutional records in the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Director’s Cup standings, vaulting from 123rd in 2003 to a school-record 34th place at the end of 2009-10. During his tenure, the Cyclones won five Big-12 championships in several different sports.
At USD, Snyder was involved in athletics fundraising, marketing, facilities planning, compliance and student academics and athletics services.
Snyder and his wife, Tricia, have three children: Kelsi; Andrew; and Jaci.
