Dave Nielsen
Encyclopedia
Dave Nielsen is the Head Track and Field Coach of the Men and Women’s teams at Idaho State University
. Nielsen is known for his pioneering work in the pole vault
. Nielsen has had many stand out athletes over the years. However he is known best for coaching Stacy Dragila
to Olympic Gold in the 2000 Summer Olympics
. Nielsen is now entering his 25th year as Head Track and Field Coach at Idaho State University. Throughout his career Nielsen has shared his knowledge of the vault with the track and field community, producing four DVDs; Pole Vault Fundamentals and Techniques, Effective Practice Drills for the Pole Vault, Gymnastics Training for the Pole Vault, and Women’s Pole Vault featuring Stacy Dragila. He has also published many articles on various aspects of the vault some of which include; Athletics Outstanding Performer – The Vaulting Pole, Jump Efficiently, and more. Along with coaching the Bengal
track and field athletes and Dragila, Nielsen is also coaching emerging elite pole vaulter Paul Litchfield and heptathlete Jackie Poulson.
Idaho State University
Idaho State University is a public university located in Pocatello, Idaho. It has outreach programs in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Falls, Boise, and Twin Falls....
. Nielsen is known for his pioneering work in the pole vault
Pole vault
Pole vaulting is a track and field event in which a person uses a long, flexible pole as an aid to leap over a bar. Pole jumping competitions were known to the ancient Greeks, as well as the Cretans and Celts...
. Nielsen has had many stand out athletes over the years. However he is known best for coaching Stacy Dragila
Stacy Dragila
Stacy Renée Mikaelsen is an American former pole vaulter.She won the first gold medal in women's pole vaulting at the 2000 Summer Olympics coached by Dave Nielsen...
to Olympic Gold in the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
. Nielsen is now entering his 25th year as Head Track and Field Coach at Idaho State University. Throughout his career Nielsen has shared his knowledge of the vault with the track and field community, producing four DVDs; Pole Vault Fundamentals and Techniques, Effective Practice Drills for the Pole Vault, Gymnastics Training for the Pole Vault, and Women’s Pole Vault featuring Stacy Dragila. He has also published many articles on various aspects of the vault some of which include; Athletics Outstanding Performer – The Vaulting Pole, Jump Efficiently, and more. Along with coaching the Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
track and field athletes and Dragila, Nielsen is also coaching emerging elite pole vaulter Paul Litchfield and heptathlete Jackie Poulson.
| By The Numbers | By The Years |
|---|---|
| 1 - Olympic Gold Medalist (Stacy Dragila, 2000) | 2007 Mountain Region Women's Outdoor Coach of the Year |
| 1 - NCAA Champion ( Amber Welty, 1988) | 2006 Big Sky Indoor Co-Coach of the Year |
| 11 - Academic All-Americans | 2005 Big Sky Indoor Coach of the Year |
| 17 - Big Sky Scholar Athletes | 2003 Coached team USA Heptathletes in the Netherlands |
| 20 - All-Americans | 2000 USA Track and Field USA Track and Field USA Track & Field is the United States national governing body for the sports of track and field, cross country running, road running and racewalking... Nike Nike, Inc. Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area... Elite Coach of the Year |
| 49 - NCAA Qualifiers | 2000 Finalist USOC National Coach of the Year |
| 140 - Big Sky Champions | 2000 District/Mountain Region Coach of the Year |
| 351 - All-Big Sky Athletes | 1998 Big Sky Coach of the Year |
| 916 - Academic All-Big Sky Honorees | 1997 Big Sky Coach of the Year |