COACHING STAFF
ERIC EIDSNESS
• Quarterbacks • Passing Game Coordinator
E
ric Eidsness rejoins the Jackrabbit coaching staff as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator after serving as head coach at Southwest Minnesota State for the past six seasons.
In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Eidsness also serves as the program’s pro liasion. Prior to taking over the SMSU program, Eidsness served as an assistant at SDSU under John Stiegelmeier on two separate occasions. He began his association with the Jackrabbits as a graduate assistant during the 1996 and 1997 seasons, working with the team’s receivers. After a year as offensive coordinator at Ferris State (Mich.), Eidsness returned to SDSU in 1999 as offensive coordinator, while also coaching the team’s quarterbacks and running backs. • First Season Recruiting Areas: • Twin Cities • California • Florida Alma Mater: University of Sioux Falls,1992
In five seasons directing the offense at SDSU, the Jackrabbits averaged 27.6 points per game while competing at the Division II level. During his tenure, the Jackrabbits set numerous school records both rushing the ball with AllAmerica running back Josh Ranek and throwing the ball with quarterback Dan Fjeldheim. Eidsness left SDSU after the 2003 season to become head coach at Southwest Minnesota State. He compiled a 26-40 career record during his tenure on the Mustang sideline, which included a 6-5 season in 2008 — only the eighth winning season in school history. Eidsness’ 26 victories as head coach rank second in program history. While at the helm of the Mustang program, Eidsness coached 61 all-conference players, including 10 who earned all-region honors. SMSU increased its scoring average each of his last four seasons, from 20.1 points per game in 2006 to 36.0 points in 2009, tying a school record with eight games of 30-plus points. The 2009 squad also averaged 396.2 yards of total offense per game. A Sioux Falls native, Eidsness attended St. Cloud State University for two years before transferring to the University of Sioux Falls, where he graduated in 1992. He spent two years playing in Europe, where he also began his coaching career with the Robinson Sphinx in Paris, France. Upon returning to the United States, Eidsness served as quarterbacks and receivers coach at Morningside during the 1994 and 1995 seasons before enrolling in graduate school at SDSU. A second-generation coach, Eidsness followed is the footsteps of his father, Lyle, who coached at the high school and collegiate levels throughout the Upper Midwest for more than 30 years. Lyle served on his son’s coaching staff at Southwest Minnesota State for four years (2004-07) as special teams and running backs coach. Eidsness and his wife, Brandy, are the parents of four children: sons Eli (5) and Otto (3), and daughters Isla (1) and the late Audrey Rose.
The Eidsness Family: Isla, Brandy, Eli, Otto and Eric.
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2010 JACKRABBIT FOOTBALL MEDIA GUIDE