Justin Sell joined the Jackrabbit staff on May 7, 2009 as the 12th director of athletics at South Dakota State University.

"I love working as part of a team, and that's exactly how we work at SDSU," Sell said. "From President Chicoine, to the faculty and staff, administration, donors and fans, we all work together for the benefit of South Dakota State University and Jackrabbit Athletics."

Sell oversees the Jackrabbits' 21-sport Division I varsity athletics program. Eighteen SDSU teams compete in The Summit League, while football competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference of the Football Championship Subdivision and wrestling competes as a member of the Western Wrestling Conference. Women's equestrian competes under the umbrella of the National Collegiate Equestrian Association.

Under Sell's leadership, SDSU athletics continues to make strides in athletic competition, in the classroom, in fundraising and in reconnecting with alumni.

Athletically, the Jackrabbits claimed a total of 10 regular and postseason league championships in five different sports since 2009-10. That success earned SDSU The Summit League Commissioner's Cup all-sports trophy following the 2010-11 season, after a runner-up finish the year before. Also in 2010-11, SDSU earned the league's Sportsmanship Award, an award voted upon by their peers.

In the classroom, Jackrabbit student-athletes continually post a grade-point average of 3.2 or higher in more than 70 different majors, which led SDSU to winning The Summit League's Institutional Academic Achievement Award for the 2009-10 academic year and the Missouri Valley Football Conference Academic Award in all four years in the league (2008-11).

In January of 2011, Sell announced a partnership with Learfield Sports, signing a 10-year deal worth $13 million for SDSU athletics. Learfield Sports quickly established a Brookings-based entity known as "Jackrabbit Sports Properties" that directs all aspects of the partnership, including managing and selling multimedia and sponsorship rights for South Dakota State Athletics.

In addition to the deal with Learfield Sports, Sell directed the implementation of the Letterwinners Club, which provides opportunities for Jackrabbit Athletics to reconnect and stay connected with former student-athletes, while supporting current student-athletes at South Dakota State.

In the years to come, Sell wants to continue reconnecting with former Jackrabbit student-athletes and enhancing the athletic facilities while still maintaining success, both in competition, but more importantly, in the classroom.

On the facilities front, Sell oversaw the completion of the Dykhouse Student-Athlete Center in 2010, and developed the 2025 SDSU Athletic Facilities Master Plan. Additionally, Sell spearheaded efforts to add permanent seating and a press box at Erv Huether Field, chairback seating in both Frost Arena and Coughlin-Alumni Stadium and continues working towards the building of an indoor practice facility and football stadium.

Born in Salem, Ore., and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Sell came to South Dakota State from the University of Northern Iowa, where he worked in various roles, both at the university and in the community for 10 years. He also worked at Villanova University, Syracuse University, Ohio State University and Bowling Green State University. Sell gained further experience working in the private sector for various sports teams and events.

In the Brookings community, where Sell lives with his wife, Jennie, and their four children: Abbie, Zach, Josh and Eric, he serves as Vice President of the Brookings Chamber of Commerce, Vice President for the Brookings Friends of Baseball and on the Brookings Health System Board of Trustees.

Sell earned his bachelor's degree in sport management from Bowling Green State University (Ohio) in 1991 and completed a master's degree in physical education/sport administration at The Ohio State University in 1992.