BROOKINGS – South Dakota State University head football coach John Stiegelmeier announced Wednesday the hiring of Brian Bergstrom as the Jackrabbits' new safeties coach.

"We are really excited to add Coach Bergstrom," Stiegelmeier said. "Not only has he been a coordinator for a program that has had great success, but he also has great roots in our recruiting areas. His greatest attributes, though, are the man and leader he is."

Bergstrom, who has coached collegiately in the Upper Midwest for 12 years, most recently served the past four seasons as defensive coordinator at Augustana University in Sioux Falls. During his time at Augustana, the Vikings won a share of the 2015 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference South Division title and earned a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs. Bergstrom's players combined to earn all-NSIC honors 13 times with one All-America selection. He also served as special teams coordinator for one season.

A 2002 graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College, Bergstrom filled the role of defensive coordinator at his alma mater from 2006-10. He also mentored the Gusties' linebackers for three seasons and coached the secondary for two seasons. In between his coaching stints at Gustavus and Augustana, Bergstrom coached the defensive backs at Minnetonka High School in the Twin Cities metro area.

Bergstrom began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at St. Cloud State, coaching the linebackers during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. He then served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Crown College in 2005.

A native of Burnsville, Minn., Bergstrom was an all-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and honorable mention All-America selection as a linebacker. He was named team MVP and was a team captain. In addition, Bergstrom was a CoSIDA Academic All-America honoree and was named the recipient of an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.