Bob Nielson Named MVFC Bruce Craddock ‘Coach of the Year’

Third-year head coach leads Western back to the playoffs for the first time since 2010

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Western Illinois head football coach Bob Nielson received the Missouri Valley Football Conference's top coaching honor as he received the Bruce Craddock 'Coach of the Year' award.

The conference's top awards were announced on Wednesday (Nov. 25) following a vote by the head coaches, sports information directors and select media. Teams were not allowed to vote for their own personnel in the final ballot.

It marks the first MVFC 'Coach of the Year' award for Nielson and fifth conference coaching award in his 23-year career. Nielson received 31 points, edging out Illinois State's Brock Spack (28), Joe Glenn of South Dakota (25) and Chris Klieman of North Dakota State (24).

Nielson, a three-time National 'Coach of the Year' at the NCAA Division II and III level, has now taken a team to the NCAA Playoffs at the Division III, II, and I FCS level.

"I am extremely honored. Receiving the Bruce Craddock 'Coach of the Year' award is a recognition of the work of our entire staff and the effort of our entire team," said Nielson.

The Leathernecks were picked to finish eighth in the MVFC preseason poll, and wound up jumping up five spots after tying for third place at 5-3. Western defeated the other two teams it finished in a tie with – at UNI and home versus South Dakota State.

The plus-5 jump was the second-biggest jump dating back to the original MVFC poll in 1986 (2010, +6 spots).

Western won its final two games of the regular season, both in overtime, to get playoff eligible at 6-5 and all while playing the nation's toughest schedule in the nation's top conference. Saturday's game will mark the program's first postseason appearance since 2010.

Nielson adds to his resume a 2015 MVFC 'Coach of the Year' award, along with three Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference honors while at Minnesota-Duluth (2010, 2008, 2002) and one from the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference while at Wartburg (1993).

The MVFC coaching award is named after former Leatherneck coach Bruce Craddock, who was a two-time Coach of the Year himself during his tenure from 1983-89. He passed away in 1990 after battling cancer.

Nielson becomes the fourth Leatherneck head coach to receive the award, joining: Craddock (1987, 1988), Randy Ball (1997) and Don Patterson (2000, 2002).

This Saturday, Western (6-5 overall) opens the 2015 postseason traveling to Dayton (10-1) for an opening round game. Kickoff at Welcome Stadium is scheduled for 11 a.m. central and the game can be seen live on ESPN3 and the Watch ESPN app.

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