RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota School of Mines soccer program has officially announced the promotion of Bill Schaefer to interim head coach for the 2023 soccer season.

Schaefer begins his second year with the program, serving as an assistant coach for the 2022 season.

Schaefer has served with the local club team, the Black Hills Rapids since 2019. During his time there he has been a Pre-Select Director, Director of Recreational Soccer, and Director of the Center of Excellence. In these roles, his duties have ranged from producing curriculum, training coaches, focusing on tactical training of players, recruiting coaches and players, as well as other duties.

Prior to those roles with the Black Hills Rapids, Schaefer worked as the President of the Board of Directors for Sturgis Soccer from Oct. 2017-June 2019.

Since 2015, Schaefer has also served as a head coach for both the Sturgis Soccer and Black Hills Rapids organizations, coaching ages from under-5 up to under-19, producing several high-performing teams including #1 ranked in the State of South Dakota and nationally ranked teams.

Schaefer graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and Sociology in 2005.

"I am honored and excited to take over as the head coach of this program, said Schaefer. "I appreciate the opportunity to continue to be a part of the Hardrocker family and to continue to help take this program to the next level."

About South Dakota Mines
The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and NCAA Division II offering 11 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletic programs. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 members, as well as four associate members, located in the states of California, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah.