Kurt Nielsen has been part of the Nebraska Wesleyan coaching staff since the year 2003 as the horizontal jumps coach. During his first year with the Prairie Wolves, he coached triple jumper Lee Seberger to an NCAA indoor national title. Since then, Nielsen has coached 25 All-American performances and has been named the NCAA Regional assistant coach of the year three times.
Nielsen received a physical education degree from NWU in 1975 and had a stellar track and field career. As an athlete at Nebraska Wesleyan, Nielsen was a 10-time Conference Champion, winning eight high jump titles and two long jump titles. He still holds the both the indoor and outdoor school records in the high jump. His high jump of 7-2 3/4 in 1973 was the third best in any collegiate division that year and remains the conference outdoor meet record. For his efforts, the Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World-Herald named Nielsen State College Athlete of the Year. Then, in 1974, he won the NCAA Division III crown in the high jump.
Nielsen served three years as an assistant track and field coach at Gering High School before returning to Lincoln. He then served 10 years as an assistant and 14 years as the head track and field coach at Lincoln Northeast High School.
He is now retired from teaching. He and his wife, Becky, have two sons, Justin and Jared.
