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.
| 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 Nike 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 |