Head track and field coach Dave Nielsen is being inducted into the National Pole Vault Summit Hall of Fame this weekend at the National Pole Vault Summit in Reno, Nev. Several current and former Bengals are set to compete at the Summit Friday and Saturday in addition to Nielsen being honored. Under Nielsen, the Bengals have won five Big Sky Championships. He has also been honored as Big Sky Coach of the Year five times. He garnered national recognition when he coached former Bengal Stacy Dragila to being the world’s first Olympic gold medalist in the women’s pole vault in 2000. In 2012, Nielsen sent three vaulters, Mike Arnold, Paul Litchfield and Levi Keller, to the United States Olympic Trials. Last season, Arnold was named All-American for his seventh-place finish at the NCAA Championships.
“There are so many words,” said Arnold. “I would say he is one of the best coaches to have in your corner. He knows a lot about the vault and he has taken me from a 16-foot vaulter to an 18 or 19-foot vaulter. He is definitely in it for the kids. As hard as we want to work, he is going to work just as hard.” more
