USD receives $5.6 million donation from former football player for largest private donation in Coyote history – Mitchell Republic

VERMILLION – The University of South Dakota athletic department has received its largest non-corporate gift in the program’s history, athletic director Jon Schemmel announced Wednesday morning.

The $5.6 million donation – from former Coyote offensive lineman Dr. John House – is the largest private donation ever made to the USD athletic program.

“I want to thank John and the entire House family for this investment in the future of Coyote Athletics. “The University of South Dakota is committed to having a championship program at the second highest level of football nationally, this gift furthers that commitment,” Schemmel said in a press release. “Since our transition to Division I, John has shared the vision of athletic and academic excellence with the university and department. This gift will have a tremendous outward impact for all Coyote student-athletes.”

According to the press release, the donation will specifically be used “to provide operational support to the South Dakota football program and to further improve athletic facilities.”

House, a 1976 USD graduate, was a four-year champion for the football program from 1973-76. He was a member of two USD teams that secured two NCC championships in 1973 and 1974. He was also inducted into the Coyote Sports Hall of Fame in 2022. House lives in Dallas, Texas and is the former co-founder and CEO of USMD Holdings and is currently co-founder and CEO of US Specialists Management, a medical practice management company. He is a retired urologic surgeon.

“I owe a lot to USD for giving me the opportunity to excel on the field and in the classroom, in the operating room and in the boardroom. The scholarship I received changed my life,” House said. “This donation is my way of paying it forward so that future student-athletes have the same opportunities for success that I did. It’s not just about football – it’s about giving the next generation the tools they need to succeed academically and athletically.”

It is the second major donation to the athletics program in the last six months, following a secret gift from the Jones family in July that was then the largest private donation until House’s donation.

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