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.[1][2] 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.[5][2] In 1940, Neilson was appointed assistant professor of physical education and assistant coach at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri.[6][7] 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.[5][2]
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 | T–8th | |||||
| Hampton: | 6–10 | 6–10 | |||||||
| Total: | 14–17–2 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
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.”
- ^ a b c d “Herman Neilson, 71; professor and coach”. The Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. October 10, 1978. p. B25. Retrieved April 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com
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- ^ 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 .
- ^ a b 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.
