The emotional moment for Nielson came the day after he announced that he was stepping down as South Dakota football’s head coach and retiring from coaching. He departs USD after nine seasons, four playoff appearances, a Missouri Valley Football conference title and the program’s first-ever playoff semifinal appearance.

The University of South Dakota football program announced that head coach Bob Nielson is stepping down with plans to retire after coaching 32 seasons, including the last nine at USD. The school also announced that defensive coordinator Travis Johansen will take over as head coach.

He won 100 games and two national championships during two five-year stints as head coach at UMD and also served nine years as the school's athletic director.

After an illustrious college football coaching career, long time UMD head football coach Bob Nielson is retiring.

The 2024 season saw Johansen lead a unit that ranked in the top 10 in scoring defense and top 20 in rushing defense.

For the first time in almost a decade, the South Dakota Coyotes football program will not be led by Bob Nielson, who announced his retirement on Thursday afternoon. Nielson spent nine of his 32 years of head coaching experience with the Coyotes,