Home at the Dome: Caden Ellingson’s Coyote Football Journey
For Ellingson, the DakotaDome is a place that has shaped his journey from a small-town kid with a love for football into a Division I student-athlete representing his home state.
Originally from Tea, South Dakota, Ellingson earned his undergraduate degree in marketing in 2025 and has continued his academic and athletic career by pursuing his MBA at USD.
But long before college football, there was a third grader who discovered a passion for the game.
“I started playing football in elementary school, and ever since then, it just became something I was obsessed with,” said Ellingson. “I loved the team aspect and having a bunch of teammates to lean on.”
As a youth player, Ellingson experienced the DakotaDome for the first time and remembers being awestruck by the state-of-the-art facility.
“I just remember being like, ‘Wow, this is so cool,’” he said. “I was used to playing on grass fields with a few bleachers on the sidelines. But seeing the environment of the DakotaDome, from the ceiling fans to the lights and the stands, it felt out of this world.”
With a preview of the DakotaDome, his love for football grew through middle school and intensified in high school, when he realized high school games weren’t the finish line—they were his kickoff to something bigger.
“I was a sophomore in high school when I realized that this could take me further,” he explained. “I started attending camps, connecting with coaches, including Coach Bob Nielsen, and getting my name out there.”
His efforts eventually led him to USD, where—despite not having a “regular” college visit due to the COVID-19 pandemic—he fell in love with the campus, programs and people. He even spoke with Coyote players first-hand, giving him a glimpse of what his future life as a student-athlete could be like.
After his visit, Ellingson committed to USD, just before the defining moment of his high school career: a 2020 Class 11A state championship with the Tea Titans inside the DakotaDome.
“It was an incredible experience. I got to end one chapter where the next one started. That’s something I’ll never forget,” Ellingson said.
The DakotaDome has been home to the South Dakota state high school football championships since 1981—a legacy that has provided student-athletes like Ellingson with an unforgettable experience and a window into what they can achieve next.
Now, Ellingson’s newest chapter has been written with purpose as an offensive lineman on the Coyote football team. After redshirting his first year, his role with the Coyotes has grown, enabling him to embrace both the challenges and the responsibilities of Division I football.
“There’s nothing that can fully prepare you for college football,” Ellingson said. “Being familiar with the DakotaDome helped a little bit, but what helped me the most were the people at USD and the football veterans—they played the biggest role in helping me adjust both physically and mentally.”
With the physical and mental shift, Ellingson secured even more new memories in the DakotaDome. The first was a 2023 victory over Youngstown State, capped by a walk-off field goal, and then a 2024 Missouri Valley Conference championship win over North Dakota State University.
But while the moments have changed, the electric atmosphere within the DakotaDome has remained the same.
“It’s such an awesome environment,” Ellingson said. “As a high school player, the DakotaDome is more of a goal; as a collegiate athlete, it’s a whole different level.”
From the athletic training room to the locker room and weight room, the state-of-the-art facilities in the DakotaDome are designed to support student-athletes’ success—and the people behind the scenes make that a priority.
“I credit our staff and everyone else who makes sure we have what we need to perform and play at our highest level,” he added.
Being part of the collegiate team also includes participating in traditions like the Coyote Walk, where fans line up to greet players as they enter the DakotaDome—an experience that ignites Ellingson’s appreciation for representing something bigger than himself.
“I feel a great sense of purpose in representing my team and teammates, the university and South Dakota as a whole,” he said.
For Ellingson, the opportunity to play in the DakotaDome, whether in a championship game or as a Coyote, is more than just a game—it’s a memory, a milestone and a dream realized.
“I love this place,” he said. “I can’t express it enough; I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
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