Leatherneck Nation

This year was hardly a dominating performance. Four conference wins that were tooth and nail until final gun. We could easily have ended conference at 2-6 instead of 5-3. As a smart coach knowing what is coming back, would you consider the past season a "1 off" and be open to other options? Probably. Oh, and there is that potential QB controversy in the back of your mind.

Beau, there were rumors on GoYotes.net a few days back.

This would be very bad news to the football program. Nielson has brought stability to the program, in addition to great talent from the HS ranks. I honestly believe he is just getting started, the program is pointed up and good things are only going to follow.

The part that concerns me is that he is actually interviewing. It is one thing to be "connected" to a job, but another to actually trudge out to Vermillion and interview. This tells me that there isn't something that is the right fit for him and/or his family. Perhaps he wanted the Athletic Director title as well at some point? Wasn't he also the AD at UM-Duluth? I don't know, just throwing some different things out there.

Either way, it would be a major loss and I just hope it doesn't come to fruition. It would be an absolute killer in recruiting for this season as well.

sealhall74 wrote:Beau, there were rumors on GoYotes.net a few days back.

I was actually contacted by one of the USD guys asking about Nielson last Thursday...they've been talking about him on their boards for a while as a fairly serious candidate for the position.

ST_Lawson wrote:

sealhall74 wrote:Beau, there were rumors on GoYotes.net a few days back.

I was actually contacted by one of the USD guys asking about Nielson last Thursday...they've been talking about him on their boards for a while as a fairly serious candidate for the position.

Lots of interesting reading over there. That Char Bar analogy was a great way to start off my day.

I would like to see him stay - isn't his first recruiting class going to be seniors next year?

I do see things that I think could be improved on, coaching wise, but the biggest question for me is if he does go to USD where would we come up with the cash to hire a quality replacement?

I still think this news is related to the WIU budget. Nielsen's incentives alone (if my numbers are accurate) for this year's run are about $40,000. I just can't see a coach like Nielson making a lateral move before his first recruiting class has graduates.

In the same vein, if he does leave, I just wonder who we could get because of the budget situation. I assume it would be someone that could get on the cheap.

beauspencer wrote:I still think this news is related to the WIU budget. Nielsen's incentives alone (if my numbers are accurate) for this year's run are about $40,000. I just can't see a coach like Nielson making a lateral move before his first recruiting class has graduates.

That's what I was calculating as well. Base was ~$206.8k, plus $38.4k for making the playoffs, winning a playoff game, and winning MVFC coach of the year. That doesn't include any potential bonuses for GPA, academic progress rate, etc. (which are all bonus points in his contract). So it looks like he was probably at least ~$250k, if not a bit more.

So if Nielson made $206,000. and made almost another $50,000. in bonuses do you think USD can afford him? Glenn has been reported to make $145,000. and Stiegelmeir made $195,000. at SDST do you think the State of South Dakota would allow Nielson to make that much more? If it's only money Nielson is after, he is probably better off staying at WIU.

Any updates? I know someone on here has to be close with him.