Bob Nielson retired last season after 35 years as a head coach at multiple levels, winning wherever he went.

His last stop was a USD, where he turned the Coyotes into a national championship contender by his ninth and final season in 2024. Shortly after they fell 14 points short of reaching the FCS title game.

Nielson retired a month later, turning over the program to his accomplished defensive coordinator Travis Johansen.

In a one-hour interview, Nielson — now living in Sioux City and working as a consultant for the American Football Coaches Association and as an FCS Oversight Committee member — describes the first year of adult life outside of coaching and athletic administration.

The Iowa native discusses the major issues facing college football at all levels — yep, mostly NIL and the transfer portal — and where things might be headed.

The conversation then turns to his observations of the 2025 USD squad under the leadership of Johansen.

How much do Bob and Travis talk? How much does Bob miss coaching, and what things does his miss most?

Then, a walk down memory lane of how Nielson slowly but surely took the from Coyotes a program that struggled mightily in the MVFC its first few years in the league to the conference co-champion in his final season.

Specifically, Nielson details the extent to which South Dakota State's success under John Stiegelmeier dicated if not inspired Nielson's own operation.

The interview ends on Nielson's favorite memory of USD's rivalry with SDSU during his time. Your first guest is likely correct. But it is still a fun story to hear from a usually reserved who has an uptick in energy and tone in reminiscing about that moment.