Dan Fitzsimmons enters his second season as the head coach of The University of South Dakota men's and women's cross country teams in the fall of 2009. He also serves as an assistant coach for the Coyote men's and women's track and field teams.

A USD alum, Fitzsimmons was named head coach in July, 2008, and led the Coyotes to a solid performance in his first season at the helm. The women finished second at the Great West Conference meet behind an individual title from Ramsey Fitzsimmons, who was also named the conference runner of the year, while three other USD women earned all-conference accolades. The men claimed fourth thanks to an All-Great West performance by Rob Gregoire, who finished seventh.

In 1997 Fitzsimmons was named head coach of the Yankton High School cross country team and then in 2002 he was named the track and field head coach. He began working with the cross country team in 1989 and the track and field team in 1990 as an assistant coach. Fitzsimmons also was the head coach of the Yankton gymnastics team since 1986.

In his time with the cross country team, Fitzsimmons led five teams that were ranked in the top 20 in the nation. He guided four teams to the South Dakota AA combined boys and girls state championship. He also coached eight South Dakota AA championship teams, three-straight boys championships (2005-07) and five-straight girls titles (2003-07). Fitzsimmons was named South Dakota Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2003 (girls), 2004 (girls), 2005 (boys) and 2006 (boys and girls). The South Dakota NHSACA Gatorade Circle of Champions named him coach of the year for four-straight years (2004-07). He was also the South Dakota Sportswriters Prep Girls Coach of the Year in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Fitzsimmons was also successful with the Yankton track and field team. He guided the team to five state championships and six relay team championships while also coaching 20 individual champions. Two of his athletes were named South Dakota Gatorade Track and Field Performers of the Year. Fitzsimmons was named the South Dakota NHSACA Gatorade Circle of Champions Track and Field Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2005.

During his four-year career at South Dakota, Fitzsimmons was a three-time NCC place-winner in the 3,000m steeplechase, setting the USD record in the 3,000m steeplechase which stood from 1985-00. He graduated in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and earned a master’s degree in exercise science in 1999, both degrees were earned from The U. His wife, Cecilia, was a seven-time NCC track and field champion and former record holder in the long and triple jump. She was inducted into the USD Hall of Fame in 2000.

Fitzsimmons and his wife, Cecilia, are the parents of Sean, Shannon, Connor and Brenna. Sean and Shannon both currently attend The University of South Dakota.