Rick Karius has been named as the new director of basketball operations for University of South Dakota head men’s basketball coach Craig Smith. Karius has spent the last two years in the profession, including one year each at Bradley and Green Bay.

“Rick brings a wealth of experience to USD that will help our program in tremendous ways,” said Smith. “He is detailed, organized, hardworking, energetic and solution driven. Rick will fit into our culture well, and will play a major role in continuing to build our program.”

Karius was a four-year letter winner at Wisconsin-La Crosse where he earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting in 2009. He proceeded to Southwest Minnesota State where he served as assistant coach for the Mustangs’ men’s team. A year later, he was the head assistant at UW-Superior. He returned to La-Crosse in 2011 and served in the same capacity.

Karius was hired as video coordinator at Green Bay in 2013 for coach Brian Wardle. He switched to director of operations for year two before following Wardle to Bradley ahead of the 2015-16 season.

“I am excited to join Craig Smith and the coaching staff at the University of South Dakota,” said Karius. “Craig is a highly-respected coach and has a reputation for building championship-level programs. I am grateful for this opportunity and looking forward to working with the team.”

Karius is a native of Chilton, Wis., which rests less than an hour from Green Bay. He earned his master’s degree in business administration from Southwest Minnesota State in 2014.

http://www.goyotes.com/news/2016/6/30/mens-basketball-karius-named-mbb-director-of-operations.aspx