member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and competes at the Division II level. The school joined the Division II Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in January 2014 for the majority of its sports (effective beginning the 2014–15 school year), except for men's soccer which joined the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) for men's soccer in 2013 and football beginning in 2014. The Hardrockers formerly competed as members of the Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 2000–01 to 2010–11, and were former members of the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference (SDIC) (also from the NAIA) until after the 1999–2000 school year. South Dakota Mines completed the transition form the NAIA to the NCAA in July 2013. Notable staff Prior to 1897, the head of SDSM&T held the title of Dean rather than president. Earl D. Dake served as acting president from 1947–1948 and 1953–1954. Dr. Duane C. Hrncir served as acting president from 2012–2013 following the death of Dr. Robert A. Wharton. Deans Dr. Franklin R. Carpenter (1886–1889) George F. Duck (1889–1890) Samuel Cushman (1890–1891) Dr. William P. Headden (1891–1893) Dr. (Hon.) Walter P. Jenney (1893) Dr. Valentine T. McGillycuddy (1893–1897) Presidents Dr. Robert L. Slagle (1898–1905) Dr. Charles H. Fulton (1905–1911) Dr. Cleophas C. O'Harra (1911–1935) Dr. Joseph P. Connolly (1935–1947) Dr. Warren E. Wilson (1948–1953) Fay L. Partlo (1954–1966) Dr. Harvey R. Fraser (1966–1975) Dr. Richard A. Schleusener (1975–1987) Dr. Richard J. Gowen (1987–2003) Dr. Charles P. Ruch (2003–2008) Dr. Robert A. Wharton (2008–2012) Dr. Heather A. Wilson (2013–2017) Dr. James M. Rankin (2017–present) Other notable staff Ernest Allmendinger, football head coach (1914) William Arbegast, director of the Advanced Materials Processing and Joining Center (2001–2009) Dr. Philip R. Bjork, geology and paleontology professor (1975–2000) William Phipps Blake, accepted and then turned down position as the first dean - donated books started school library Gary Boner, longest-serving (1971–1989) and winningest football head coach at SDSM&T Josh Boyer, football defensive coordinator (2005) now NFL coach Dr. Wendell E. Dunn, Jr., adjunct professor of metallurgy (?–2007) Ray D. Hahn, men's basketball head coach (1930–1935) and football head coach (1929–1934) Dan Kratzer, football head coach (2005–2011) Erv Mondt, football head coach (1990–1994) Dr. Walter A. Rosenblith, physics professor (1943–1947) Dave Strong, football head coach (1941) and men's basketball head coach (1941–1942) Dr. Jack Weyland, author and physics professor (?–1971) Notable alumni James Abourezk, former U.S. Representative