Ryan Kirsch

Biography

South Dakota State men’s basketball’s Bryan Petersen made his first hiring as head coach of the program official on Monday, April 7, as Ryan Kirsch joined the Jackrabbit coaching staff. Kirsch has worked across several levels of college basketball, most recently serving as head coach at Iowa Central Community College during the 2024-25 season. Kirsch also has ties to the program previously serving as a graduate assistant for the Jackrabbits during the 2017-18 campaign. “We are thrilled to add coach Kirsch, his wife Branygon and daughter Kollyns to our Jackrabbit basketball family,” Petersen said. “They fit South Dakota State University and our program core values perfectly. Ryan has won everywhere he has been and made an incredible difference in the programs he’s been a part of. We are excited about the impact he will make on our student-athletes!” Kirsch recently led Iowa Central to a 20-12 overall record and 10-8 mark in conference play during the 2024-25 season. Kirsch guided the junior college program based in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to a Region 11 Tournament championship game, falling by two points to eventual national champion Kirkwood Community College. Kirsch inherited a team that finished last in its conference and had single-digit victories the year prior to his arrival. The incoming SDSU assistant spent six total seasons as a full-time assistant coach prior to the head coaching opportunity at Iowa Central. Kirsch was a member of the Minnesota Duluth staff for two seasons