Bob Nielson was introduced as the 30th head coach in the history of University of South Dakota football in December of 2015, completing his 32nd year as a head coach heading with the 2024 campaign. The now nine-time conference champion head coach added to his total, leading the Coyotes to a share of the MVFC title in 2024 for the first time in program history. The three-time MVFC Coach of the Year also serves on the FCS Oversight Committee since July 2024.
On November 16, 2024, in the come-from-behind win on the road at North Dakota, Nielson picked up his 50th career win leading the South Dakota football program.
It is the sixth head coaching stint for Nielson, who has enjoyed success at every level of college football. He is a three-time national coach of the year recipient, a two-time national champion head coach at the NCAA Division II level, and a three-time Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC)Â Coach of the Year in 2015 (Western Illinois) and 2023 & 2024 (South Dakota).
In 2018, Nielson crossed a career milestone with his 200th career win. The Coyotes’ 31-24 win at Southern Illinois in their conference opener marked the 200
th career win and he needed less than 300 games to get there. Nielson became the 91
st college football coach to reach the plateau.
The momentum would continue to build into what became another special season in 2024 for Nielson and the Coyotes. The Senior Day win over No. 1-ranked North Dakota State (Nov. 23) secured the program's first-ever MVFC title, earning a share of the title with a 7-1 overall MVFC record. The victory over the Bison also secured the first undefeated home slate in the regular season with a 6-0 mark, the first time since the 2011 season. Heading into the FCS Playoffs, Nielson again would keep the momentum going with a pair of wins over (13) Tarleton State (Second Round) and (5) UC Davis (Quarterfinals) to secure the program's first-ever appearance in the FCS semifinals. The 2024 season also saw the Coyotes earn a berth to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time. Nielson and his staff would coach the MVFC Defensive Player of the Year in Mi'Quise Grace, while also having a pair of First Team All-Americans in Grace (AP, STATS Perform) and JJ Galbreath (AP).Â
The 2023 season proved to be a breakout season for Nielson and Coyotes. USD notched double-digit wins for the first time in the Division I era, and the first time as a program since the 1986 season. South Dakota picked up a pivotal road win with a 24-19 victory at North Dakota State (Sept. 30) and went on to make their first-ever appearance in the quarterfinal round of the FCS Playoffs. The Yotes ended the season ranked No. 4 in the FCS.
South Dakota returned to the FCS Playoffs again in 2021. It was the program’s sixth NCAA appearance (DI and DII eras combined), while the Coyotes hosted a first-round game. That marked the first postseason game played inside the DakotaDome in 35 years and first at the FCS level. South Dakota finished 7-5 with a program-best 5-3 mark in Valley play, good for third-place.
Nielson has been labeled a builder throughout his career, and he has added to that legacy at USD. In just his second season with the Coyotes, Nielson led the program to a record eight wins at the Division I level and to the FCS playoffs for the first time. It marked the fifth consecutive program that has reached the playoffs within four years of Nielson taking the helm. The Coyotes won their FCS playoff debut in 2017 and reached the final 16.
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Prior to arriving in Vermillion, Nielson served as head coach at Western Illinois University for three seasons from 2013-15. He led the Leathernecks to a 7-6 record in 2015 and to the second round of the FCS playoffs. It was the first playoff appearance for the Leathernecks since 2010. While at Western, Nielson coached seven All-MVFC First Team selections including four in 2015.
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Nielson is a native of Marion, Iowa, and received his bachelor’s degree from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, in 1982. He began his career as an offensive line coach at his alma mater before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 1987.
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Nielson's first head coaching opportunity was at Ripon College. He was 2-6-1 in his first season and improved to 7-2 in year two. It was the first season the Red Hawks had posted more than four victories in eight years.
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Nielson returned to Wartburg in 1991 to serve as head coach and Athletic Director of the Knights. In 1993, his third season, Wartburg won an Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC)Â title, Nielson earned his first conference Coach of the Year award, and the Knights returned to the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time in 11 years. In 1994, Wartburg recorded its first NCAA playoff victory.
Nielson transitioned to Wisconsin-Eau Claire ahead of the 1996 campaign. In just his third season with the Blugolds, he won the 1998 WIAC Championship and made a run all the way to the NCAA Division III national semifinals. He would go on to be named Football Gazette's NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year that season.
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Nielson’s Minnesota Duluth Dynasty began in 1999. In year three, Duluth made its first postseason appearance by competing in the Mineral Water Bowl. The following season, the Bulldogs won the 2002 Northern Sun Championship with a perfect 9-0 record and qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time in school history.
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Duluth was 38-19 in its first five years under Nielson, who turned in his whistle after the 2003 season to serve as the Bulldogs’ athletic director. He remained the AD when he returned to coach the football team in 2008. That year, Duluth earned its first national championship with a 15-0 record. The Bulldogs duplicated the feat in 2010.
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Nielson was 100-26 in 10 seasons at Duluth. In his second five-year stint, the program was 62-7 with five NCAA playoff appearances, five NSIC titles and two undefeated seasons. Nielson was named national coach of the year in both championship years and totaled three Northern Sun Coach of the Year awards.
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Nielson and his wife, Terri, have two daughters, Amanda Taylor and Kasey, a son, Kyle, and six grandchildren, Cash, Rowan, Rowan and Finley Taylor, Corbin and Lucy Raveling, and Collyns Nielson. Nielson holds a master’s degree from University of Northern Iowa, which he completed in 1988. He served as Chair of the NCAA Football Rules Committee from 2015-17, and is a member of the University of Minnesota Duluth and Linn-Mar High School Athletic Hall of Fames.
Nielson Year-by Year:
| Year(s) |
Institution |
Record (MVFCÂ Rec.) |
Season Notes |
| 1981-86 |
Wartburg* |
N/A |
Offensive line coach |
| 1987-88 |
Wartburg* |
N/A |
Defensive Coordinator |
| 1989 |
Ripon |
2-6-1 |
|
| 1990 |
Ripon |
7-2 |
|
| 1991 |
Wartburg |
6-4 |
|
| 1992 |
Wartburg |
5-5 |
|
| 1993 |
Wartburg |
9-2Â |
IIAC title, NCAA DIII Playoffs |
| 1994 |
Wartburg |
10-2Â |
NCAA DIII Playoffs (Quarterfinals) |
| 1995 |
Wartburg |
9-1 |
|
| 1996 |
UW-Eau Claire |
5-5 |
|
| 1997 |
UW-Eau Claire |
7-3 |
|
| 1998 |
UW-Eau Claire |
10-3Â |
WIAC title, NCAA DIII Playoffs (Semifinals) |
| 1999 |
Minnesota Duluth |
3-8 |
|
| 2000 |
Minnesota Duluth |
7-4 |
|
| 2001 |
Minnesota Duluth |
9-3 |
|
| 2002 |
Minnesota Duluth |
11-1 |
NSIC title, NCAA DII Playoffs |
| 2003 |
Minnesota Duluth |
8-3 |
|
| 2004-07 |
Minnesota Duluth* |
N/A |
Athletic Director |
| 2008 |
Minnesota Duluth |
15-0 |
NSIC title; NCAA DII National Champions |
| 2009 |
Minnesota Duluth |
11-2 |
NSIC title; NCAA DII Playoffs (Quarterfinals) |
| 2010 |
Minnesota Duluth |
15-0Â |
NSIC title; NCAA DII National Champions |
| 2011 |
Minnesota Duluth |
11-3 |
NSIC title; NCAA DII Playoffs (Quarterfinals) |
| 2012 |
Minnesota Duluth |
10-2 |
NSIC title; NCAA DII Playoffs |
| 2013 |
Western Illinois |
4-8 (2-6 MVFC) |
|
| 2014 |
Western Illinois |
5-7 (3-5 MVFC) |
|
| 2015 |
Western Illinois |
7-6 (5-3 MVFC) |
FCS Playoffs |
| 2016 |
South Dakota |
4-7 (3-5 MVFC) |
|
| 2017 |
South Dakota |
8-5 (4-4 MVFC) |
FCS Playoffs |
| 2018 |
South Dakota |
4-7 (3-5 MVFC) |
|
| 2019 |
South Dakota |
5-7 (4-4 MVFC) |
|
| 2020-21 |
South Dakota |
1-3 (1-3 MVFC) |
|
| 2021 |
South Dakota |
7-5 (5-3 MVFC) |
FCS Playoffs |
| 2022 |
South Dakota |
3-8 (2-6 MVFC) |
|
| 2023 |
South Dakota |
10-3 (7-1 MVFC) |
FCS Playoffs (Quarterfinals) |
| 2024 |
South Dakota |
11-3 (7-1 MVFC) |
FCS Playoffs (Semifinals), Co-MVFC Champions |
|
Overall Record: |
239-128-1 |
|
|
Overall Record at USD: |
53-48 |
|
|
MVFC Record [at USD]: |
46-46 [36-32] |
|
*non-head coaching position
 Head Coach Summary
| Institution |
Year(s) |
Record |
| 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 |
10 years (1999-2003, 2008-12) |
100-26 |
| Western Illinois |
3 years (2013-15) |
16-21 |
| South Dakota |
9 years (2016-pres.) |
53-48 |
| Overall |
32Â seasons |
239-128-1 |
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UPDATED JANUARY 2025
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