VERMILLION, S.D.—University of South Dakota head football coach
Bob Nielson will be inducted into the University of Minnesota Duluth Athletic Hall of Fame Saturday at a ceremony hosted by Holiday Inn and Suite in downtown Duluth. Nielson is one of four being honored.
Nielson led the Bulldogs' football program to NCAA Division II national championships in 2008 and 2010, finishing both seasons with unbeaten 15-0 records. He amassed a remarkable 100-26 record in 10 seasons at the helm of the program. In that time, he guided Duluth to five Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) titles, its inaugural postseason appearance (2001 Mineral Water Bowl), and to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time. The Bulldogs totaled six playoff appearances under Nielson.
"I am honored to be recognized in this way," said Nielson. "When I started at Duluth in 1999, you never fathom that at some point in time in your career that you are going to be recognized as somebody who had a special place in the history of their athletic department.
"It will be a great opportunity to see some people that I was able to develop great relationships with while I was there during my almost 14 years, and that will be the fun part of the weekend."
Nielson began at Duluth in 1999 and resigned as head football coach following the 2003 campaign in order to serve as Duluth's athletic director. He remained the AD when he returned to coach the football program in 2008, taking a 4-6 team and making them national champions.
In Nielson's second five-year stint as head football coach (2008-12), the Bulldogs went 62-7 with five playoff appearances, four NSIC titles and two undefeated seasons. He was named national coach of the year in both championship years and totaled three Northern Sun Coach of the Year awards.
Nielson grew up in Marion, Iowa, and attended Linn-Mar High School where he played football, basketball and tennis. He was inducted into the Linn-Mar High School Hall of Fame in 2012.
In addition to South Dakota and Duluth, Nielson has been the head football coach at Ripon, Wartburg, UW-Eau Claire and Western Illinois. He recently concluded his second season with the Coyotes, leading the team to the FCS playoffs for the first time and capturing the program's first FCS playoff victory.
Related: Haagenson, Nielson, Potter and Waitrovich are UMD Athletic Hall of Fame's Class of 2017 - courtesy of UMDBulldogs.com
