Following up on something that I mentioned over the weekend (JUCO DIRT). Iowa Central CC head coach Ryan Kirsch has officially been hired as an assistant at South Dakota State. Here’s the announcement from SDSU:

South Dakota State men’s basketball’s Bryan Petersen made his first hiring as head coach of the program official on Monday as Ryan Kirsch joins 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. His time with the Bulldogs saw Kirsch’s squads advance to two NCAA Tournament showings. The 2022-23 season featured the Bulldogs earning their first ever NCAA Tournament victory, first NCAA Regional title and make their first NCAA Elite Eight appearance. 
 
Prior to the move to the Division II level, Kirsch worked four seasons at Kirkwood Community College. His first season coincided with Petersen’s last as head coach for the Eagles. Petersen and Kirsch guided Kirkwood to a national championship in 2019. His time in Cedar Rapids saw the Eagles claim three conference titles, while Kirsch was named to the 2019 Under Amour NABC 30-Under-30 Team, recognizing the top 30 assistant coaches in the nation under the age of 30.
 
Kirsch was South Dakota State’s video coordinator during a graduate assistant stint with the Jacks through the 2017-18 slate. He was part of a staff led by T.J. Otzelberger that saw the team set a then-program record for wins (28-7 record) at the Division I level. The Jacks were The Summit League regular season and tournament champions that year, earning a 12-seed for the NCAA Tournament.
 
“Bryan is a dear friend of mine, he’s been a mentor and been like a big brother through this journey in coaching,” Kirsch said. “We had a lot of success in my one year here as a GA. I look forward to helping Bryan continue the success this program has had since he got here. Our family is excited to make the move and be in Brookings.”
 
Kirsch earned a master’s degree in sports administration and leadership from Augustana University in Sioux Falls. He attended Iowa State University and served as a student assistant for the Iowa State men’s basketball program from 2014-2016. Kirsch completed his undergraduate career by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in industrial and manufacturing systems engineering.