Bob Nielson (born September 28, 1959) is an American former college football coach. He served as the head football coach at Ripon College (1989–1990), Wartburg College (1991–1995), the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire (1996–1998), University of Minnesota–Duluth (1999–2003, 2008–2012), Western Illinois University (2013–2015), and the University of South Dakota (2016–2024). His Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs won the NCAA Division II Football Championship in 2008 and 2010.

Nielson grew up in Marion, Iowa, and 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 began his coaching career in 1981 as an assistant at Wartburg and was promoted to defensive coordinator in 1986.[1] Nielson retired from coaching after the 2024 season, and was succeeded by Travis Johansen as head coach of the South Dakota Coyotes football program.[2]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# STATS/TSN°
Ripon Redmen (Midwest Conference) (1989–1990)
1989 Ripon 2–6–1 1–5 T–4th (North)
1990 Ripon 7–2 4–2 T–2nd (North)
Ripon: 9–8–1 5–7
Wartburg Knights (Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1991–1995)
1991 Wartburg 6–4 5–3 T–3rd
1992 Wartburg 5–5 5–3 T–3rd
1993 Wartburg 9–2 8–0 1st L NCAA Division III First Round
1994 Wartburg 10–2 7–1 2nd L NCAA Division III Quarterfinal
1995 Wartburg 9–1 7–1 2nd
Wartburg: 39–14 32–8
Wisconsin–Eau Claire Blugolds (Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1996–1998)
1996 Wisconsin–Eau Claire 5–5 3–4 5th
1997 Wisconsin–Eau Claire 7–3 4–3 4th
1998 Wisconsin–Eau Claire 10–3 5–2 T–1st L NCAA Division III Semifinal
Wisconsin–Eau Claire: 22–11 12–9
Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) (1999–2003)
1999 Minnesota–Duluth 3–8 3–5 T–6th
2000 Minnesota–Duluth 7–4 5–3 T–3rd
2001 Minnesota–Duluth 9–3 7–2 2nd 24
2002 Minnesota–Duluth 11–1 9–0 1st L NCAA Division II First Round 11
2003 Minnesota–Duluth 8–3 6–2 3rd
Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) (2008–2012)
2008 Minnesota–Duluth 15–0 10–0 / 6–0 1st / 1st (North) W NCAA Division II Championship 1
2009 Minnesota–Duluth 11–2 10–0 / 6–0 1st / 1st (North) L NCAA Division II Quarterfinal 5
2010 Minnesota–Duluth 15–0 10–0 / 6–0 1st / 1st (North) W NCAA Division II Championship 1
2011 Minnesota–Duluth 11–3 8–2 / 5–1 T–1st / T–1st (North) L NCAA Division II Quarterfinal 6
2012 Minnesota–Duluth 10–2 10–1 / 6–1 2nd / T–1st (North) L NCAA Division II First Round 12
Minnesota–Duluth: 100–26 78–15
Western Illinois Leathernecks (Missouri Valley Football Conference) (2013–2015)
2013 Western Illinois 4–8 2–6 9th
2014 Western Illinois 5–7 3–5 T–7th
2015 Western Illinois 7–6 5–3 T–3rd L NCAA Division I Second Round
Western Illinois: 16–21 10–14
South Dakota Coyotes (Missouri Valley Football Conference) (2016–2024)
2016 South Dakota 4–7 3–5 T–6th
2017 South Dakota 8–5 4–4 T–5th L NCAA Division I Second Round 16 15
2018 South Dakota 4–7 3–5 T–6th
2019 South Dakota 5–7 4–4 6th
2020–21 South Dakota 1–3 1–3 T–7th
2021 South Dakota 7–5 5–3 T–3rd L NCAA Division I First Round 20 18
2022 South Dakota 3–8 2–6 9th
2023 South Dakota 10–3 7–1 2nd L NCAA Division I Quarterfinal 4 4
2024 South Dakota 11–3 7–1 T–1st L NCAA Division I Semifinal
South Dakota: 53–48 33–32
Total: 239–128–1
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Nielson to lead Redmen football". Oshkosh Northwestern. Oshkosh, Wisconsin. March 21, 1989. p. 21. Retrieved December 6, 2020 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  2. ^ Fernandez, Jonathan (January 16, 2025). "South Dakota football coach Bob Nielson steps down, announces Travis Johansen as new head coach". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  3. ^ "NCAA Statistics; Coach; Bob Nielson". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved January 3, 2025.


Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Nielson
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