SDSU hires Janssen as assistant soccer coach

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BROOKINGS – South Dakota State women's soccer coach Brock Thompson announced Friday the hiring of Andy Janssen as assistant coach for the Jackrabbit program.

Janssen spent the previous seven seasons with Bemidji State and the last five as a full-time assistant coach. While at BSU, he helped the Beavers compile an 81-45-9 record (.626) with seven consecutive trips to the NSIC Tournament. He has coached one NSIC Offensive and one Defensive Player of the Year, 14 all-region selections and 35 All-NSIC picks.

"Andy's passion for teaching the game and being a positive influence for our players was evident from the moment he set foot on campus for his interview," Thompson said. "He's enthusiastic yet demanding and our program will benefit greatly because of it. I have been aware of the culture that coach (Jim) Stone and Andy have created at Bemidji State and I'm thrilled for our program that Andy is a Jackrabbit. Andy has played and coached under great coaches and mentors and I know we are adding a great person to our Jackrabbit Soccer Family today."

Janssen served as recruiting coordinator the last five years in addition to handling coordination of forward and midfield attacking patterns, planning and implementing practice sessions, goalkeeper training, scouting reports and assisting in making travel arrangements.

"Thank you to coach Thompson, Athletic Director Justin Sell and the rest of the hiring committee for trusting me to join the soccer staff," Janssen said. "I can't wait to get to work pursuing championships with the Jackrabbits alongside Brock Thompson, Caylee Costello, the student-athletes and the support staff. I owe a lot of thanks to Jim Stone, who for the past seven years has taught me how to run a complete program. Coach Thompson and coach Stone have similar morals, values and beliefs, and that showed throughout the interview process. I've had a great impression on what South Dakota State is like, and I'm excited to join the Jackrabbits."

Prior to joining the Beavers, Janssen served as the director and coach of the Orange City (Iowa) Parks and Recreation soccer program from 2009-10. He also held a youth soccer coaching position at The Dakota Alliance Soccer Club in Sioux Falls, South Dakota from 2006-10.

Janssen graduated in 2009 from Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in business education with a coaching endorsement in addition to being a four-year letterwinner with the men's soccer team. He earned three All-Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) selections, was team captain in 2007 and 2008 and garnered NAIA All-America Honorable Mention accolades following the 2007 campaign. In addition, he played three summers in the Premiere Development League for the Sioux Falls Spitfire.

He is set to finish his master's degree in sport studies from Bemidji State in June 2017.

The Sioux Falls native currently holds a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Advanced National Diploma and a NSCAA Level 3 Goal-Keeping Diploma.