Joel Nielsen
Champions Gate,FL
Summary
A highly experienced administrator with demonstrated ability to lead teams of professionals to exceed expectations in competitive environments. A proven record of managing resources and formulating operating systems and procedures. Twenty years of experience as a Director of Athletics and serving on the President's Cabinet.
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
Work History
Higher Education Specialist
Bricker Graydon LLP & INCompliance Consulting
Columbus, OH
05.2023 - Current
- Advise clients in athletic compliance, gender equity planning, revenue generation and strategic planning.
Operations Manager
Walt Disney World Golf
Lake Buena Vista, FL
12.2022 - 09.2023
- Oversee daily operations team at 45 hole golf facility
- Teach, coach and train team members
- Provide customer service to guests
Executive General Manager, Ole Miss
REVELxp
Oxford, MS
07.2021 - 07.2022
- Responsible for the origination, development and management of the Ole Miss property for REVELxp
- Developed and implemented revenue opportunities in football, basketball and baseball
- Grew the property revenue from a start-up to a projected seven-figure business in 2022
- Oversight of Dyehard Fan Supply sales, including the brick and mortar store and all in-venue merchandise sales
- Developed and grew relationships with Ole Miss and their accompanying fan communities to generate new leads, referrals and sales communities
- Managed a staff of sales, production and operations personnel
Director of Athletics
Kent State University
Kent, OH
05.2010 - 06.2021
- Responsible for the overall leadership and management of a Division I (FBS) athletic department
- The department maintained a $30M annual budget, 135 employees, 455 student-athletes and multiple facility sites
- A member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC)
- The student-athletes maintained a 3.33 cumulative GPA in 2021, the highest in department history and improvement was realized in thirteen of last fourteen semesters
- Spring 2020 set a record term GPA of 3.56
- The student-athlete graduation success rate (GSR) set an all-time high in 2021, 86%
- Since 2010, the sport programs earned 63 MAC regular season or tournament championships
- In 2012, the baseball team earned an appearance in the College World Series
- In 2012, the football team went 11-1 in the regular season and was ranked in the Top 25, and qualified for a post-season bowl for the first time in 40 years
- In 2010-11, five programs earned Top 20 finishes in the NCAA Championships
- In 2017, the men's basketball team won the MAC Tournament championship, and won two regular season MAC titles in eleven years
- The 2019 football team advanced to the fourth bowl game in school history and defeated Utah State for it's first bowl victory
- The men's sport programs earned three MAC Reese titles (most outstanding men's program) in eleven years, including two NCAA individual national champions
- The women's sport programs earned three MAC Jacoby titles (most outstanding women's program) in eleven years, including one NCAA individual national champion
- Created and led a student-athlete group (Gamechangers) that addressed topical issues in today's society
- The department received the MAC's Cartwright Trophy three times in eleven years, recognizing the most outstanding overall athletic program
- In 2020, received the MAC FAR Award in Women's Sports, presented to the institution with the highest GPA and APR (women's programs) in the league
- In 2017-18, the department finished #74 in the Learfield Director's Cup, finishing ahead of Boston College, Washington State, Rutgers, Pitt and several other Power 5 programs
- Fundraising numbers improved each year since 2010, both annual and capital
- Realized a record number of major gifts in 2018, and a record number of donors in 2020
- Solicited the largest gift in the department's history in 2011, an $8M commitment
- Solicited funds for $4M in improvements to the baseball stadium complex, a new locker room complex for women's sports ($4.5M), a basketball/volleyball development center ($1.7M), a new athletic training and education center ($4.1M), a new student-athlete academic center ($1.0M), turf replacement at the indoor fieldhouse ($1.0M), and a football locker room renovation ($1.2M)
- Developed and led an annual Athletic Scholarship Dinner and Auction, netting over $150K per year
- Opened the new Jenkins Student-Athlete Academic Center and a new 10,000 sq.ft athletic training and education center
- Served as the President's Cabinet representative to the Presidential Search Committee (2013), and chaired the search for VP of Institutional Advancement in 2014
- Served as co-chair of the Athletic Strategic Visioning process, completed in December 2015
- Served on the MAC Student-Athlete Wellness Committee (AD representative)
- Hired thirteen head coaches in eleven years, including three head football coaches, one men's basketball coach, and two women's basketball coaches
- Negotiated and signed two footwear and apparel agreements; Nike in 2012 and Under Armour in 2015
Director of Athletics
The University of South Dakota
Vermillion, SD
10.2003 - 05.2010
- Responsible for the leadership and overall management of the athletic department
- Oversight responsibilities for the NCAA reclassification from Division II to Division I, beginning in 2007
- Coordinated the campus effort and successful execution of the NCAA reclassification to Division I
- Working closely with the USD Foundation, soliciting the needed resources to fund a reclassification move, to include staff, scholarship and operational needs
- Secured Division I membership for all sports (except football) in the Summit League
- Hired a new head football coach in 2003
- Program won a conference title in 2005 and qualified for the Division II playoffs in 2006
- Men's basketball won two conference titles and never finished lower than fourth in the league from 2003-2010
- Led a university-wide team in concept, design, and financing of a new Student Recreation Center.
Director of Athletics
Colorado College
Colorado Springs, CO
01.2001 - 10.2003
- Responsible for the leadership and overall management of the athletic department
- Oversight of 20 programs, 18 competing at the Division III level and two at Division I (men's ice hockey and women's soccer)
- Developed and implemented a four-year gender equity plan
- Added two women's sports
- Solicited funds for the reconstruction of Washburn Field, including a new artificial surface and a new track
- Hockey program won a conference title in 2003, and program earned its first Hobey Baker Trophy winner
- Negotiated a lease agreement with the World Arena, the practice and competitive facility for CC Hockey.
Associate Athletic Director
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC
05.1993 - 01.2001
- Management and oversight of the department's external relations and communications
- Areas of responsibility included marketing and promotions, athletic communications, ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, ticket office and special events
- Realized significant ticket revenue increases in both football and men's basketball over a seven-year period
- Operated the university's licensing program
- Oversight of the department's external multi-media agreement (IMG)
- Negotiated and signed the first comprehensive footwear and apparel agreement in 1997 with Nike
- Directed the annual Wake Forest Pro-Am golf fundraiser
- Assisted in the development of over $25M in new facilities
- Served as the liaison with the city-owned LJVM facility, home of Wake Forest basketball.
Sports Marketing Director
Hyatt Corporation
Atlanta, GA
12.1992 - 05.1993
- Responsible for the identification and solicitation of professional, collegiate and Olympic sport business.
Assistant Athletic Director
Illinois State University
Normal, IL
12.1991 - 12.1992
- Responsible for the organization and development of a comprehensive Division I marketing plan encompassing sixteen sports, to maximize attendance and revenue.
Athletic Development Assistant
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL
05.1990 - 12.1991
- Assisted with the overall athletic development program
- Responsible for the Varsity Club and faculty/staff solicitation.
Graduate Assistant Football Coach
Minnesota State University
Mankato, MN
03.1989 - 05.1990
- Served as offensive receivers coach and assisted the Director of Athletics in fundraising and corporate solicitation.
Education
EdD-Higher Education (inactive) -
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IlMaster of Arts - Sports Administration
Minnesota State University
Mankato, MN12.1990
Bachelor of Science-Finance -
Minnesota State University
12.1986
Skills
- Leadership/communication
- Fundraising
- Project management
- Budget and fiscal planning
- Vendor negotiation
- Staff recruitment and retention
- Strategic planning
- Revenue generation
Affiliations
National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA)
LEAD1 Association (former Division 1A Athletic Director's Association), former Board of Trustee
Personal Information
Married 29 years. Wife (Sharon) was a Division I student-athlete. Three daughters, Kelly, Kasey and Kory are graduates of Kent State and were members of the Kent State women's golf team. Kelly works for the Seminole Boosters at Florida State, Kasey is a practicing attorney in Cleveland, Ohio and Kory is a middle school teacher in Celebration, Florida.
Member, Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Celebration, Florida
Timeline
Higher Education Specialist
Bricker Graydon LLP & INCompliance Consulting
05.2023 - Current
Operations Manager
Walt Disney World Golf
12.2022 - 09.2023
Executive General Manager, Ole Miss
REVELxp
07.2021 - 07.2022
Director of Athletics
Kent State University
05.2010 - 06.2021
Director of Athletics
The University of South Dakota
10.2003 - 05.2010
Director of Athletics
Colorado College
01.2001 - 10.2003
Associate Athletic Director
Wake Forest University
05.1993 - 01.2001
Sports Marketing Director
Hyatt Corporation
12.1992 - 05.1993
Assistant Athletic Director
Illinois State University
12.1991 - 12.1992
Athletic Development Assistant
Northern Illinois University
05.1990 - 12.1991
Graduate Assistant Football Coach
Minnesota State University
03.1989 - 05.1990
EdD-Higher Education (inactive) -
Northern Illinois University
Master of Arts - Sports Administration
Minnesota State University
Bachelor of Science-Finance -
Minnesota State University
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