Dax Michelena

Dax Michelena was a three time all-conference athlete as well as the 2001 GPAC Player of the Year as a quarterback for USF Football.

In 1997, Michelena moved from his hometown of Sheridan, WY and started his career with the Cougars by helping lead them to a National Semi-Final appearance as a freshman. Throughout his first season, he threw for 1,707 yards and 22 touchdowns while rushing for 757 yards with 9 touchdowns, making him the second leading rusher on the team. Michelena was named SDIC First Team All-Conference in 1997 which ultimately set the tone for the rest of his career.

He was named a team captain his senior year and collected the 2001 GPAC Player of the Year award. That year, Michelena threw for 2,500 yards and 22 touchdowns, culminating with an appearance at the National Championship game. Throughout his career, he combined for 10,410 yards in total offense for the Cougars.

Etching his name in the record books, Michelena held the record for total offense, rushing yards by a quarterback and passing yards until 2016. He currently sits third in passing touchdowns with 72 career touchdowns and third in completed passes with 518. Throughout his career, Michelena rushed for 2,755 yards and 47 touchdowns while maintaining a 37-11 record.

Following his career with USF, Michelena went on to play 10 years of professional and arena football. He started his semi-pro career with Sioux Falls Storm before heading overseas where he earned numerous athletics achievements. From 2007-2009, Michelena led his teams to the Norwegian National Championship and the English National Championships and was voted the Most Valuable Player each season.

Michelena finished his degree from the University of Sioux Falls in 2017, earning a Bachelor of Arts in history. He currently resides in Sheridan, WY where he works for Aletek as a Territory Account Manager. His daughter Avery is in her third year at the University of Miami in Florida and his son Dylan lives in Pennsylvania and works for Zimmer Biomet.