VERMILLION, S.D.—Bob Nielson was introduced as the 30^th head coach in the history of University of South Dakota football during a press conference held Tuesday afternoon in the Muenster University Center on the USD campus. The announcement came three weeks following the retirement of Joe Glenn.
 
Nielson was introduced by USD athletic director David Herbster after President Jim Abbott provided opening remarks.
 
"It's always a great day to be a Coyote, but some days are just a little more special than others and today is one of those days," said Abbott. "Athletic director Herbster and his staff managed to get this job done in I think absolutely the best way."
 
Herbster said there were three areas that he needed to address to continue moving the football program forward. He cited cost of attendance and hiring an incredible coach as two of the three things he can check off his list. The third was addressing the facility needs of the football program.
 
"That's one of the main conversations that we had in this process and Bob believed in our vision in the things we need to do for this football program," said Herbster. "Once we're done with the Arena, once we're done with all the track and soccer complex, we need to address football. We need to address meeting rooms, locker room space, and office space if we're going to continue to be competitive."
 
Nielson echoed Herbster's sentiments on facility improvements when it was his turn at the podium. He addressed the crowd that included current players and coaches, USD faculty and staff members, and members of the community for nearly three minutes and spent another 15 minutes answering questions from the media.
 
"I'm deeply honored," Neilson began. "Over the past week, through my discussions and research, I found that this is truly a special place and its strong leadership holds a bold vision for this University, the athletic program, and Coyote football.
 
"While leaving a place with established connections is never easy, it became obvious to me that this was a team I wanted to be a part of and this vision is definitely the kind of vision that I want to be a part of as well."
 
Nielson has spent the last three years as head coach at Western Illinois University in Macomb. He led the Leathernecks to a 7-6 record and to the second round of the FCS playoffs this past season when he was named Missouri Valley Football Conference Coach of the Year. It was the first playoff appearance for the Leathernecks since 2010.
 
Nielson said he's been referred to as a builder from time to time throughout his career and his resume supports the label. He has compiled a 186-80-1 record in 23 seasons as a head coach for five different programs. He's taken four of those programs to the playoffs within his first four years and captured NCAA Division II national championships with Minnesota Duluth in 2008 and 2010. He began his career at Ripon College where he won two games in 1989 and then went 7-2 in 1990 before taking the head coaching gig at Wartburg College, his alma mater.
 
"Championships for the pride of the western plain will be our goal," said Nielson. "And we will do it in a way that all of you can radiate pride in being part of something special.
 
"I feel I've got 12-15 really good years left and I want to invest those years in a place that is truly committed to doing things the right way, and without question the University of South Dakota is committed to doing that."
 
Nielson, who turned 56 last September, said putting a staff together would be his first priority and that he hopes to have that process finalized by the end of the week. Recruiting would follow.
 
"We want to be a more consistent football team and through our recruiting efforts add additional talent and the right people that fill in around what we already have here to beat the best teams on a regular basis," said Nielson.
 
Nielson, who grew up in Marion, Iowa, is a 1982 graduate of Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. He received his master's degree from the University of Northern Iowa in 1988. He and his wife, Terri, who was in attendance Tuesday, have two daughters, Amanda Taylor and Kasey King, and a son, Kyle.
 
A look at Nielson's resume follows:
 
Institution                  Years                               Head Coaching Record
Wartburg                      6 years (1981-86)              N/A, offensive line
Wartburg                      2 years (1987-88)              N/A, defensive coordinator
Ripon                           2 years (1989-90)              9-8-1
Wartburg                      5 years (1991-95)              39-14
UW-Eau Claire              3 years (1996-98)              22-11
Minnesota Duluth         5 years (1999-2003)          38-19
Minnesota Duluth         4 years (2004-07)              N/A, athletic director
Minnesota Duluth         5 years (2008-12)              62-7
Western Illinois             3 years (2013-15)              16-21