FORMER SDSU COACH TO KEYNOTE MENNO FCA BANQUET

Former SDSU football coach keynoting April 7 event; there’s still time to RSVP

Those attending Sunday evening’s spring banquet of the Menno Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) will hear from one of the most well-known former coaches in all of South Dakota.

John Stiegelmeier, who led the South Dakota State University football team from 1997 to 2022 and guided the Jackrabbits to their first of two straight FCS national championships in his final season, will be the keynote speaker at the April 7 banquet that will take place inside Menno’s city/school auditorium starting at 6 p.m.

Michael Hecht, pastor of the Salem Reformed Church who works closely with the Menno FCA, said those who still would like to RSVP may do so yet late this week by calling or texting Ivory Wintersteen at 605-680-2595.

“We’re very excited,” Hecht said of Stiegelmeier accepting the invitation — an idea that came about during a brainstorming session last fall to talk about the upcoming year.

“One of our huddle leaders said, ‘Boy it sure would be neat to have Coach Stig here for the banquet,’” he recalls. “And we were like, ‘What are the chances,’ and I said, ‘it doesn’t hurt to ask.’”

Hecht then reached out to Brian Hansen, an FCA director in Sioux Falls, who said he was actually going to be talking to Stiegelmeier the next day and would float the idea. It wasn’t long before Hecht got a phone call from the coach, who asked him, ‘What you got going on?’”

Sunday won’t be the first time Stiegelmeier has spoken at Menno’s FCA Spring Banquet; he was featured in 2007, as well, and says he is looking forward to the return.

“I can’t wait,” he told The Courier in a phone interview on Monday. “Because of the position I was in (at SDSU), I asked so many people to help the program out, so now, when people ask me to help their cause, it feels like I was set up for this.”

In retirement, Stiegelmeier works part-time helping raise funds through the SDSU Foundation and says it’s “motivating” to hear people share their stories about the university. He also does a lot of speaking.

“It has caught me off guard in terms of the number of asks,” he said, “but I’m blessed to be able to do this.”

As for the message he will share in Menno on Sunday, Stiegelmeier was still sorting it out but was hopeful it would connect with the audience.

“I’m a small-town guy,” he said, “so hopefully what I have to say will come through crystal clear.”