UMD Football Coach Bob Nielson Takes Job In Illinois

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The head football coach at the University of Minnesota-Duluth has accepted the head coaching position at Western Illinois University, according to sources.

WCCO's Mike Max confirmed the news Wednesday morning. Nielson, whose won two NCAA II championships, five Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference titles and has three perfect 11-0 regular seasons under his belt, has been with the UMD Bulldogs for nine seasons.

He also led the team to a 15-0 finish for the second time in 2010, marking something no other NCAA II club has ever done.

Nielson, a Marion, Iowa native, has also been serving as UMD's director of intercollegiate athletics, a position he's held since the 2003-04 season.

In 2008, Nielson was named the NCAA II Coach of the Year by American Football Monthly magazine, D2Football.com and the Football Gazette.

Nielson also coached three seasons at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, leading the Blugolds to a share of the 1998 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title.

Nielson and his wife, Terri, have three kids.