Joel Nielsen

Joel Nielsen is an American sports administrator originally from Latimer, Iowa. Since 2010 he has served as the athletic director for Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. Prior to his appointment at Kent State, he served as athletic director at the University of South Dakota from 2003 to 2010 and at Colorado College from 2001 to 2003. He also served as associate athletic director at Wake Forest University from 1993 to 2001 and assistant athletic director at Illinois State University from 1992 to 1993. From 1990 to 1991 he was athletic development assistant at Northern Illinois University. He is an alumnus of Minnesota State University, Mankato, where he played football and baseball and earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees.

Nielsen is a native of Latimer, Iowa and attended college at Minnesota State University, Mankato, in Mankato, Minnesota. At MSU, he played for the Minnesota State Mavericks football and baseball teams. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business finance in 1985 and a Master of Arts degree in sports administration in 1991 and served as a graduate assistant for the Mavericks football team in 1989–90.

Nielsen began his career in sports administration at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, serving as an athletic development assistant in the NIU athletic department from 1990 to 1991. In 1991 he took the position of assistant athletic director at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois, working in ISU athletics until 1992.