“We studied top midmajors, we took some time, and we became a midmajor that earned an at-large bid.”

How was the relationship with Johnston and the State program?

“I have a lot of respect for them,” she said. “They always had a good team.”

South Dakota won three regular-season titles and three Summit League tournaments in her six seasons. She was the league’s Coach of the Year for three consecutive seasons from 2017-18 to 2019-20. The Coyotes were 30-2 and 15-0 in the conference in 2019-20, when the season was halted by COVID-19.

“We had Amy Williams here before Dawn, and she did a good job,” said Mark Wendt, a superfan from near Vermillion, S.D. “Amy won the WNIT, and then she was hired at Nebraska. But Dawn was the one who slayed the dragon, who started to win games against State.

“She set the bar high for the coaches that followed. She spoiled us.”