Bob Nielson

{{Infobox college coach

| name = Bob Nielson

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1959|9|28}}

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| alma_mater = Wartburg (1982)

| coach_years1 = 1981–1986

| coach_team1 = Wartburg (OL)

| coach_years2 = 1987–1988

| coach_team2 = Wartburg (DC)

| coach_years3 = 1989–1990

| coach_team3 = Ripon

| coach_years4 = 1991–1995

| coach_team4 = Wartburg

| coach_years5 = 1996–1998

| coach_team5 = Wisconsin–Eau Claire

| coach_years6 = 1999–2003

| coach_team6 = Minnesota–Duluth

| coach_years7 = 2008–2012

| coach_team7 = Minnesota–Duluth

| coach_years8 = 2013–2015

| coach_team8 = Western Illinois

| coach_years9 = 2016–2024

| coach_team9 = South Dakota

| overall_record = 239–128–1

| bowl_record =

| tournament_record = 3–3 (NCAA D-III playoffs)
11–4 (NCAA D-II playoffs)
5–5 (NCAA D-I playoffs)

| championships = 2 NCAA Division II (2008, 2010)
1 MVFC (2024)
1 IIAC (1993)
1 WIAC (1998)
5 NSIC (2002, 2008–2011)
5 NSIC North Division (2008–2012)

| awards = AFCA Division II COY (2010)
Liberty Mutual Division II COY (2010)
IIAC Coach of the Year (1993)
3× NCIS Coach of the Year (2002, 2008, 2010)
MVFC Coach of the Year (2024)

| coaching_records =

}}

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.{{cite news |author= |title=Nielson to lead Redmen football |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64765287/the-oshkosh-northwestern/ |newspaper=Oshkosh Northwestern |location=Oshkosh, Wisconsin |date=March 21, 1989 |page=21 |access-date=December 6, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }} Nielson retired from coaching after the 2024 season, and was succeeded by Travis Johansen as head coach of the South Dakota Coyotes football program.{{cite news |last=Fernandez |first=Jonathan |title=South Dakota football coach Bob Nielson steps down, announces Travis Johansen as new head coach |url=https://www.argusleader.com/story/sports/college/university-of-south-dakota/2025/01/16/south-dakota-football-coach-bob-nielson-steps-down-usd-announces-new-head-coach/77753958007/ |newspaper=Argus Leader |location=Sioux Falls, South Dakota |date=January 16, 2025 |access-date=January 16, 2025 }}

Head coaching record

{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = both | poll1 = Coaches | poll2 = STATS/TSN }}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Ripon Redmen

| conf = Midwest Conference

| startyear = 1989

| endyear = 1990

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1989

| name = Ripon

| overall = 2–6–1

| conference = 1–5

| confstanding = T–4th (North)

| bowlname =

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| ranking =

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}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1990

| name = Ripon

| overall = 7–2

| conference = 4–2

| confstanding = T–2nd (North)

| bowlname =

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| ranking =

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}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Ripon

| overall = 9–8–1

| confrecord = 5–7

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Wartburg Knights

| conf = Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

| startyear = 1991

| endyear = 1995

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1991

| name = Wartburg

| overall = 6–4

| conference = 5–3

| confstanding = T–3rd

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

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| ranking =

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}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1992

| name = Wartburg

| overall = 5–5

| conference = 5–3

| confstanding = T–3rd

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

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| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 1993

| name = Wartburg

| overall = 9–2

| conference = 8–0

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname = NCAA Division III First Round

| bowloutcome = L

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1994

| name = Wartburg

| overall = 10–2

| conference = 7–1

| confstanding = 2nd

| bowlname = NCAA Division III Quarterfinal

| bowloutcome = L

| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1995

| name = Wartburg

| overall = 9–1

| conference = 7–1

| confstanding = 2nd

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

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| ranking =

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}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Wartburg

| overall = 39–14

| confrecord = 32–8

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Wisconsin–Eau Claire Blugolds

| conf = Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

| startyear = 1996

| endyear = 1998

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1996

| name = Wisconsin–Eau Claire

| overall = 5–5

| conference = 3–4

| confstanding = 5th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

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}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1997

| name = Wisconsin–Eau Claire

| overall = 7–3

| conference = 4–3

| confstanding = 4th

| bowlname =

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| ranking =

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}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 1998

| name = Wisconsin–Eau Claire

| overall = 10–3

| conference = 5–2

| confstanding = T–1st

| bowlname = NCAA Division III Semifinal

| bowloutcome = L

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Wisconsin–Eau Claire

| overall = 22–11

| confrecord = 12–9

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs

| conf = Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference

| startyear = 1999

| endyear = 2003

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1999

| name = Minnesota–Duluth

| overall = 3–8

| conference = 3–5

| confstanding = T–6th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 2000

| name = Minnesota–Duluth

| overall = 7–4

| conference = 5–3

| confstanding = T–3rd

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

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}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 2001

| name = Minnesota–Duluth

| overall = 9–3

| conference = 7–2

| confstanding = 2nd

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = 24

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 2002

| name = Minnesota–Duluth

| overall = 11–1

| conference = 9–0

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname = NCAA Division II First Round

| bowloutcome = L

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = 11

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 2003

| name = Minnesota–Duluth

| overall = 8–3

| conference = 6–2

| confstanding = 3rd

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs

| conf = Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference

| startyear = 2008

| endyear = 2012

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = national

| year = 2008

| name = Minnesota–Duluth

| overall = 15–0

| conference = 10–0 / 6–0

| confstanding = 1st / 1st (North)

| bowlname = NCAA Division II Championship

| bowloutcome = W

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = 1

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 2009

| name = Minnesota–Duluth

| overall = 11–2

| conference = 10–0 / 6–0

| confstanding = 1st / 1st (North)

| bowlname = NCAA Division II Quarterfinal

| bowloutcome = L

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = 5

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = national

| year = 2010

| name = Minnesota–Duluth

| overall = 15–0

| conference = 10–0 / 6–0

| confstanding = 1st / 1st (North)

| bowlname = NCAA Division II Championship

| bowloutcome = W

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = 1

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 2011

| name = Minnesota–Duluth

| overall = 11–3

| conference = 8–2 / 5–1

| confstanding = T–1st / T–1st (North)

| bowlname = NCAA Division II Quarterfinal

| bowloutcome = L

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = 6

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = division

| year = 2012

| name = Minnesota–Duluth

| overall = 10–2

| conference = 10–1 / 6–1

| confstanding = 2nd / T–1st (North)

| bowlname = NCAA Division II First Round

| bowloutcome = L

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = 12

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Minnesota–Duluth

| overall = 100–26

| confrecord = 78–15

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Western Illinois Leathernecks

| conf = Missouri Valley Football Conference

| startyear = 2013

| endyear = 2015

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 2013

| name = Western Illinois

| overall = 4–8

| conference = 2–6

| confstanding = 9th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 2014

| name = Western Illinois

| overall = 5–7

| conference = 3–5

| confstanding = T–7th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 2015

| name = Western Illinois

| overall = 7–6

| conference = 5–3

| confstanding = T–3rd

| bowlname = NCAA Division I Second Round

| bowloutcome = L

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Western Illinois

| overall = 16–21

| confrecord = 10–14

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = South Dakota Coyotes

| conf = Missouri Valley Football Conference

| startyear = 2016

| endyear = 2024

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 2016

| name = South Dakota

| overall = 4–7

| conference = 3–5

| confstanding = T–6th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 2017

| name = South Dakota

| overall = 8–5

| conference = 4–4

| confstanding = T–5th

| bowlname = NCAA Division I Second Round

| bowloutcome = L

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = 16

| ranking2 = 15

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 2018

| name = South Dakota

| overall = 4–7

| conference = 3–5

| confstanding = T–6th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 2019

| name = South Dakota

| overall = 5–7

| conference = 4–4

| confstanding = 6th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 2020–21

| name = South Dakota

| overall = 1–3

| conference = 1–3

| confstanding = T–7th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 2021

| name = South Dakota

| overall = 7–5

| conference = 5–3

| confstanding = T–3rd

| bowlname = NCAA Division I First Round

| bowloutcome = L

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = 20

| ranking2 = 18

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 2022

| name = South Dakota

| overall = 3–8

| conference = 2–6

| confstanding = 9th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 2023

| name = South Dakota

| overall = 10–3

| conference = 7–1

| confstanding = 2nd

| bowlname = NCAA Division I Quarterfinal

| bowloutcome = L

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = 4

| ranking2 = 4

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 2024

| name = South Dakota

| overall = 11–3

| conference = 7–1

| confstanding = T–1st

| bowlname = NCAA Division I Semifinal

| bowloutcome = L

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = South Dakota

| overall = 53–48

| confrecord = 33–32

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record End

| overall = 239–128–1

| bowls = no

| poll = no

| polltype =

}}

{{cite web |author= |title=NCAA Statistics; Coach; Bob Nielson |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/people/342?sport_code=MFB |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=January 3, 2025 }}