From VCSU Athletics

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUAthletics.com) – The Valley City State University football program has hired Sam Chilsen as an offensive assistant coach for the 2022 season, head coach Dennis McCulloch announced today.

Chilsen joins the Viking staff after two seasons as a graduate assistant at NCAA Division II school Northern State University. He will primarily coach the wide receivers at VCSU.

“Coach Chilsen is a great addition to our staff,” said McCulloch. “He brings a lot of good experience having coached with three different programs over the last six years. He’s been a part of several successful offensive staffs which will help add to offensive coordinator Dustin Yorek‘s offense here at VCSU. Sam has been recruiting the midwest and that experience will definitely add to our ability to continue bringing in high quality recruits.”

Chilsen worked the previous two seasons as an offensive graduate assistant at Northern State University, where he coached the tight ends and managed recruiting territories in Wisconsin and Iowa. The Northern State offense ranked 7th in the nation in passing offense and 12th in total offense during the 2021 season. While at Northern State, Chilsen earned a Master of Science in Education with an emphasis on sport performance and leadership.

Chilsen has also coached at University of Wisconsin La Crosse – where he was an offensive intern for two seasons and worked with quarterbacks and running backs – and at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire as an undergraduate assistant coach. Chilsen earned a bachelor’s degree in information systems while at Eau Claire.

“I am extremely thankful to Coach McCulloch for the opportunity to join the community of Valley City, VCSU, and the Viking Football family,” said Chilsen. “Coach McCulloch has established a tremendous culture and tradition at VCSU with the people he has brought into our program. I am very grateful to join Viking football in its pursuit of the next NSAA championship and a national championship. I couldn’t be more excited to get on the grass with the guys here in a couple months and get to work.”

Valley City State is coming off a largely successful 2021 season that saw the Vikings post an 8-2 overall record and achieve a No. 15 national ranking midway through the season. VCSU opens the 2022 season on Thursday, Aug. 25, at rival University of Jamestown.