 Neilson pictured in Massasoit 1930, Springfield College yearbook | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1907-12-21)December 21, 1907 |
| Died | September 14, 1978(1978-09-14) (aged 70) Hampton, Virginia, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| 1927–1929 | Springfield |
| Basketball | |
| 1928–1930 | Springfield |
| Track and field | |
| 1927–1930 | Springfield |
| Position | Halfback (football) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1930–1939 | Hampton (assistant) |
| 1940 | Lincoln (MO) (assistant) |
| 1942 | Florida A&M (assistant) |
| 1943–1944 | Florida A&M |
| 1945–1946 | Hampton |
| Basketball | |
| 1941–1942 | Florida A&M (assistant) |
| 1942–1945 | Florida A&M |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 14–17–2 (football) |
| Bowls | 0–2 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| Football 1 SIAC (1944) | |
Herman N. "Buck" Neilson (December 21, 1907 – September 14, 1978) was an American college football, college basketball, and tennis coach. He served as the head football coach at Florida A&M University from 1943 to 1944 and Hampton Institute—now known as Hampton University, compiled a career college football head coaching record of 14–17–2.
A native of Hackensack, New Jersey, and attended Hackensack High School, where he played baseball, football and ran track, in addition to receiving academic honors.12 He went on to Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he lettered in football, basketball, and track and field, before earning a Bachelor of Physical Education degree in 1930.3 Neilson later received a master's degree from Springfield in physical education and a doctorate in education from New York University.2
Neilson began his coaching career in 1930 at Hampton.4 In addition to assisting Gideon Smith with the football team, he coached track and field, baseball, boxing, tennis, and wrestling at Hampton over the next decade.52 In 1940, Neilson was appointed assistant professor of physical education and assistant coach at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri.67 Neilson succeeded William M. Bell as head football coach at Florida A&M in 1943.8 He returned to Hampton as the head football coach in 1945.9
Neilson died on September 14, 1978, at Hampton General Hospital in Hampton, Virginia, after suffering a heart attack.52
Head coaching record
Football
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida A&M Rattlers (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1943–1944) | |||||||||
| 1943 | Florida A&M | 1–4–2 | 1–1–2 | 4th | L Orange Blossom Classic | ||||
| 1944 | Florida A&M | 7–3 | 5–0 | 1st | L Orange Blossom Classic | ||||
| Florida A&M: | 8–7–2 | 6–1–2 | |||||||
| Hampton Pirates (Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1945–1946) | |||||||||
| 1945 | Hampton | 2–6 | 2–6 | 11th | |||||
| 1946 | Hampton | 4–4 | 4–4 | 10th | |||||
| Hampton: | 6–10 | 6–10 | |||||||
| Total: | 14–17–2 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
References
References
- "Neilson Coach for Hampton", Daily Press, October 4, 1945. Accessed April 15, 2026, via Newspapers.com. "A native of Hackensack, N. J., Neilson graduated from Hackensack high school, where he was a football, basketball, and track star, as well as a member of the honor society."
- "Herman Neilson, 71; professor and coach". The Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. October 10, 1978. p. B25. Retrieved April 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com
.
- Netter, L., ed. (1930). "Massasoit 1930". Massasoit. Springfield, Massachusetts: Junior Class of Springfield College: 59. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
- "Hampton-Lincoln Annual Game At Yankee Stadium". The New York Age. New York, New York. September 13, 1930. p. 6. Retrieved April 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
- Hirsch, Alan (September 16, 1978). "Dr. Herman Neilson, Coach-Teacher, Dies". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. pp. 22, 25. Retrieved April 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
- "Thirteen New Instructors To Lincoln U." The Call. Kansas City, Missouri. October 18, 1940. p. 12. Retrieved April 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
- "Assistant Coach and Captain Discuss Thorobreds". The Call. Kansas City, Missouri. October 25, 1940. p. 40. Retrieved April 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
- Kidd, A. L. (October 16, 1943). ""Buck" Neilson Succeeds "Bill" Bell As Head Coach At Florida A. &. M. College". Atlanta Daily World. Atlanta, Georgia. p. 5. Retrieved April 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
- "Neilson Returns As Pirate Mentor". The Washington Afro-American. Washington, D.C. July 7, 1945. p. 27. Retrieved April 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
- "NCAA Statistics; Coach; Herman Neilson". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved April 2, 2026.