VERMILLION, S.D. – An Ohio Valley native has landed an noteworthy position in the Mount Rushmore State.

Sean Tuttle was named the director of compliance at the University of South Dakota earlier this year. Tuttle is a Martins Ferry native and was graduated from Buckeye Local in 2004.

The South Dakota position brings with it a multitude of duties.

Tuttle, age 30, monitors recruiting, eligibility, playing and practice seasons, roster management and rules education for the Coyotes’ athletic programs.

“We have 17 sports, just under 400 student-athletes, and I am in charge of making sure that they all follow the rules and regulations set forth by the NCAA. The University of South Dakota is a Division I FCS school and a member of the Summit League Conference in all sports except football,” Tuttle said. “In football, we are a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference, which is considered the toughest conference in the FCS. Youngstown State is also in our conference and we visit them on Oct. 8 this year.

“My duties allow our student-athletes to keep playing while they earn their degrees. It is a very exciting time here at USD, we have new facilities for soccer, track & field, basketball and volleyball totaling a $66 million project,” he added. “The new track and field and soccer facilities are now open, and the new addition to the dome will open late summer/early fall 2016. Our women’s basketball team just won the WNIT, beating Minnesota, Oregon and Florida Gulf Coast along the way.”

Tuttle earned a degree in business and organizational communication from University of Akron in 2011. He gained his masters in sport and recreational management at Kent State University in the spring of 2015, focusing on NCAA compliance.

Tuttle cut his compliance teeth working in the offices at Notre Dame College and Wheeling Jesuit University. While earning his master’s degree, he served as a graduate intern for compliance and academic eligibility at Kent State.

Tuttle has also served as a promotions and marketing intern for ESPN Cleveland, and a marketing consultant and recruiter for NexGoal, LLC.

“We have 10,000 students at USD, and it is simply beautiful country. It reminds of the Ohio Valley, except a lot more windy,” Tuttle said. “We have a lot of Indian tribes in the vicinity. It really is a neat area.

“The university puts a lot of money into our athletic department. These are exciting times here,” he added. “I don’t see this as my last stop, however. My ultimate goal is to be a Division I athletic director.”