An hour with Dan Jackson... just before Bob Nielson retires

One minute after John Gaskins and Matt Zimmer walked out of a nearly hour-long conversation with the new SDSU football in his office, Jackson actually broke the news via text that USD coach Bob Nielson is retiring.

So, John and Zim begin with a 12-minute reaction to the 65-year-old's decision to step down after a nine seasons in Vermillion and 32 overall as a head coach, walking off with an 11-3 season and the Coyotes' first Missouri Valley Football Conference championship and first FCS semifinal appearance in school history — just two years after the Yotes finished 3-8 after a blowout home loss, leaving fans wondering if his job was secure. Defensive coordinator Travis Johansen takes over the program.

Then, 54 minutes with Jackson, who just six days ago was introduced as the replacement to good friend and John Stiegelmeier heir apparent Jimmy Rogers, who left for five times his salary at Washington State and took his entire coaching staff and over a dozen players with him. A recruiting war between the schools ensued.

Jackson discusses his first week on the job, acclimation to a galvanized group of players, the staff he is hiring, a deep into dealing with NIL, and how much Chase Mason and Quentin Christensen kept together the core of the 2025 roster as fellow "recruiting coordinators" to keep as many Jacks in Brookings as possible.