Dave Nielsen
Dave Nielsen is the head track and field coach of the men's and women's teams at Idaho State University. Nielsen is known for his pioneering work in the pole vault. As of 2012, Nielsen is entering his 25th year as Head Track and Field Coach. Along with coaching the Bengal track and field athletes and Dragila, Nielsen coached Paul Litchfield and heptathlete Jackie Poulson. He also coached Stacy Dragila, who won a Gold Medal in the pole vault in the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Publications
Neilsen has produced 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 published many articles on various aspects of the vault, including "Athletics Outstanding Performer – The Vaulting Pole" and "Jump Efficiently".
| 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 |