SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - The South Dakota Board of Regents has modified its personnel policies to allow for the granting of multi-year contracts to certain head coaches, athletic directors and public university presidents.
Thursday's action lifts a policy that had been preventing the University of South Dakota from officially signing its new head football coach.
University of South Dakota officials in December announced the hiring of Western Illinois coach Bob Nielson, and Nielson has been busy assembling his staff after agreeing to a $255,000 annual salary. But Nielson was seeking a long-term commitment and state policy allowed only one-year contracts.
Michael Rush, the regents' executive director, said that in order for the state's schools to remain competitive when they recruit, the institutions must be able to offer longer-term contracts for such positions.
