Two starting safety spots at the University of South Dakota suddenly became available this offseason, creating a prime opportunity in the Coyotes' secondary. Roman Tillmon transferred to Boise State, while DeJuan Lewis declared for the NFL Draft, leaving significant shoes to fill for the 2026 campaign.
Stepping into this competitive void is senior transfer Kael Kolarik, a 6-foot, 210-pound defensive back from the University of Iowa. He arrives in Vermillion with four years of Big Ten experience and a singular focus: to claim a starting role and dominate his final year of college football.
"Nothing is given; you have to go earn it," Kolarik said, emphasizing his daily mindset. "Every day is about waking up and knowing this is your chance to get better, to dominate. That's what I'm going to do."
Kolarik's journey has been built on patience and preparation. At Iowa, he was a fixture on special teams for three seasons while steadily earning more defensive snaps. His career trajectory saw him record his first tackle in a gritty 13-10 win over rival Nebraska in 2023, and he capped his Hawkeye tenure with a career-high three tackles in the ReliaQuest Bowl victory over No. 14 Vanderbilt. Seeking a larger defensive role, he entered the transfer portal, finding an ideal fit at USD.
A key factor in his decision was a familiar coach. USD safeties coach Josh Manchigiah was a defensive graduate assistant at Iowa in 2024, working directly with Kolarik before returning to South Dakota. This existing relationship and a similar defensive scheme made for a seamless transition.
"The schemes here are a lot similar to Iowa, so it made the defensive transition easier for me," Kolarik explained. "Coach Manchigiah being from Iowa and being a great coach really stood out and helped me make that decision."
That scheme was honed under Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker, one of college football's most respected defensive minds. Parker's units are renowned for their disciplined, aggressive "controlled rage," a mentality Kolarik aims to bring to the Coyotes' defense as he battles for a starting job this spring.