VERMILLION – The University of South Dakota athletic department received its largest non-corporate gift in program history, athletic director Jon Schemmel announced Wednesday morning.
The $5.6 million donation — made by former Coyote offensive lineman Dr. John House — is the largest private gift 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 in the second highest level of football nationally, this gift furthers that commitment," Schemmel said in a press release. “John has shared the vision for athletic and academic excellence with the university and department since our transition to Division I. This gift will have a tremendous outward impact for all Coyote student-athletes."
According to the release, the donation will specifically go ‘to support the South Dakota football program operationally and for further athletic facility enhancements.”
A 1976 USD graduate, House was a four-year letter winner for the football program from 1973-1976. 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 executive chairman of US Specialists Management, a physician practice management company. He is a retired urlogoic surgeon.
"I owe a lot to USD for giving me the opportunity to excel, on the field and in the classroom, the operating room and the boardroom. The scholarship I received changed my life," House said. "This donation is my way of paying it forward, so future student-athletes can have the same shot at success I had. 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 large donation to the athletics program within the last six months following an undisclosed gift in July by the Jones family, which at the time was the largest private gift until House’s donation.
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