Jon Anderson was named the University of Sioux Falls football coach. The team's former defensive coordinator becomes the program's 21st coach and replaces Jed Stugart, who was 65-16 and won the NSIC title in 2016 before leaving for Lindenwood University.

While a coach with USF from 2002-2012, Anderson helped lead the Cougars to a 134-26 record, three NAIA championships (2006, 2008, 2009), as well as the program first, nine-win team at the NCAA Division II level. He was the defensive coordinator his final three season at Sioux Falls.

Most recently Anderson was the head coach at West Virginia State for four seasons (10-34 record).

Above the curve

The Big Ten Conference recognized 1,014 athletes competing in fall sports by naming them to academic all-conference teams, including 75 at the University of Minnesota.

To be eligible for the honor, students must be letterwinners who are in at least their second academic year at their institution and carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher. At least 16 maintained perfect GPAs, including two Gophers, sophomore cross-country runners Emily Betz and Abby Kargol.

The breakdown of the Gophers honored, by sport: football, 26; cross-country, eight men and 13 women, 21; women's soccer, 18, and volleyball, 10.

U divers, freshman swimmer honored

Gophers Matt Barnard and Yu Zhou were named the Big Ten men's and women's divers of the week. Barnard, a senior from Brisbane, Australia, won the 1- and 3-meter diving events at the AT&T Winter Nationals in Atlanta. Zhou, a senior from Wuhan, China, did the same.

Minnesota's Lindsey Horejsi was named the Big Ten's freshman of the week in women's swimming. She was on the winning 200- and 400-yard medley relays in Atlanta and finished fourth in the 100 and 200 breaststroke and in the "B" 50 freestyle final.

Etc.

• Augustana quarterback Trey Heid, a senior from Lakeville, was named to the American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA) All-America first team. He led the NSIC and set an Augustana single season record with 3,582 passing yards in 2016 while throwing for a single-season record 41 touchdowns.

• Bethel quarterbacks coach Scott Kirchoff was named the NCAA Division III assistant coach of the year. He has coached three of the top six passers in MIAC history.