Kurtiss Riggs '97

Calling:

Entrepreneur, Riggs Premier Football; Head Coach, Sioux Falls Storm; Adjunct Professor, USF

Graduated:

1997

Majors:

History and Secondary Education

His Life Today:

Kurtiss Riggs owns Riggs Premier Football, a performance training program located in Sioux Falls. He is also Head Coach of the professional indoor football team, Sioux Falls Storm, and currently serves as adjunct faculty for USF in Social Sciences. While at USF, Riggs set numerous conference and national passing records, and he was on the team that won a National Championship, also earning him National Player of the Year in 1996. After graduation, Riggs played football professionally in Europe and in several indoor leagues.

Doing Well, Doing Good

Riggs considers both Coach Bob Young and Coach Kevin Vande Streek as great mentors in his life. Just some of the lessons learned? Give back whenever you can. Surround yourself with excellence. Nothing is a given, and you have to work hard to earn rewards.

Live Your Passion

He says that at USF, he learned the importance of building your life around your passion. "Things that you are passionate about are things you can attain and that bring you great reward," he says.

Going Beyond the Boundaries

Riggs appreciates how USF takes its role as part of the greater community seriously. "Faculty, staff and students are all actively trying to make a difference for others in every facet of what they do," he says. "USF's presence really enriches the city of Sioux Falls."

USF In One Word

"Spirit," he says. "It shows in the connections between people and the community, and it defines the culture of the University."