SMSU Athletics

Levi Bullerman is in his eighth season as an assistant coach for the Mustang program in 2025 and fourth season as defensive coordinator. He also coaches the team's linebackers.
 
The SMSU defense the past three seasons has put together some of the program's best numbers over the previous 20 years. The rushing defense has allowed less than 170 yards per game the past three seasons, while the defense has allowed less than 390 yards per game, ranking as the best stretch for the program since 2005. The Mustang third-down defense has been solid the previous three seasons combined allowing opponents to average under a 38 percent in third-down conversion rate. 

Bullerman has coached four All-NSIC linebackers, including Onte Burns, who was named an All-American in 2019. Burns, a three-time All-NSIC South first team honoree, led the NSIC in tackles in 2019, 2021 and 2022.

In 2022, the SMSU defense allowed 384 yards per game, which is the second lowest total for the program since the 2009 season. The Mustang pass defense held opponents to 212 yards per game in 2022, which ranked as the second lowest output since 2012.
 
In 2018, Shane Ratkovich set a school record with 21.5 tackles for loss and ranked third in the league in tackles in earning All-NSIC South honorable mention honors, while Alex Ney was an All-NSIC South second team honoree ranking ninth in the conference in tackles.

During the 2023 season, Josiah Hedensten was named All-NSIC second team after finishing fourth in the league in tackles, while in 2024 Parker Knutson earned All-NSIC first team honors, while Hedensten was named All-NSIC second team for the second straight season.

Bullerman came to SMSU after serving five seasons (2013-17) as an assistant coach at the University of Minnesota Crookston. Bullerman served in various roles as assistant at UMC, including as the program’s defensive coordinator during the 2017 season. Bullerman, who also served as the program’s recruiting coordinator for four seasons, coached special teams, defensive line and linebackers during his tenure at UMC.
  Bullerman began his coaching career at Illinois College in 2010 as defensive line coach. He coached a pair of all-conference lineman and helped a defense rank among the Top 10 in Division III in turnovers. In 2011, Bullerman became the linebackers and special teams coach at Presentation College (S.D). Presentation, which had its first collegiate football season in 2011, won six games in two seasons with Bullerman on staff. Presentation ranked in the Top 15 among Division III team in fumble recoveries in 2012.

Bullerman spent five seasons as a student-athlete with the SMSU football program from 2005-09. A 2010 graduate of SMSU with a degree in sports management, Bullerman was a four-year letter winner and three-year starter at linebacker for the Mustangs. A 2009 team captain, he never missed a game in his career and recorded 154 tackles, five sacks and three interceptions in 44 games.

Bullerman completed his master’s degree in education-coaching from Greenville University (Ill.). Levi and his wife, Alarie, have three children, son Levi Jr., and daughters, Lyla and Lillian.