Phil Scherer | Reporter
Dec. 5, 2016; 5:15 p.m.

Jed Stugart has been named the new head football coach of Lindenwood University, according to Vice President of Intercollegaite Athletics, Brad Wachler.

The announcement follows a nationwide search that took less than three weeks to complete. It began on Nov. 15, when the school announced that Patrick Ross had been relieved of his duties following a fourth consecutive losing season since transitioning to NCAA Division II.

Stugart comes to Lindenwood after seven seasons at Division II Sioux Falls, where he compiled a record of 65-17. Interestingly, he led the transition of the school from the NAIA to the NCAA at the same time as Lindenwood, though he experienced success immediately. Most recently, he led Sioux Falls to a 12-1 record this past season, advancing to the second round of the Division II playoffs. His teams have gone 32-5 the past three seasons, and advanced to the playoffs each season.

According to the Argus Leader, a newspaper in Sioux Falls, Stugart had been in contention for a number of jobs in recent years, including MIAA rival Missouri Western. There had also been rumors of him moving up to the NCAA Division I level before landing at Lindenwood.

In a press release sent out by Lindenwood, Wachler said, “I truly believe that we have hired the best football coach in all of the NCAA Division II.”

It is believed that Stugart will bring much of his staff from Sioux Falls with him to Lindenwood. However, the full staff has not yet been announced.