Superior Telegram
There is a changing of the guard for the University of Wisconsin-Superior athletic department.
Steven Nelson, director of athletics since 2004, will be retiring Sept. 30 and replaced on an interim basis by Yellowjacket baseball coach Nick Bursik.
Nelson has accepted the voluntary separation incentive offered to qualified university employees in the spring. The change went into effect immediately in order to better accommodate the fall sports season, with athletes reporting to campus this week.
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“It’s definitely bittersweet,” Nelson said. “It’s sad to leave an institution that I have been a part of for nearly 30 years, but at the same time I’m excited to move on to the next phase of my life. There’s another adventure, another challenge out there for me and I look forward to taking it on.
“I can’t thank the university and the community of Superior enough for all of the support they have afforded me since I arrived in 1986.”
Nelson, a Fridley, Minn., native and an alumnus of St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y. and the University of Minnesota, was hired to coach the Yellowjacket men’s hockey team in 1986 and built the program into a national powerhouse.
From 1992 through his final season in 2000 Nelson guided UWS to eight NCAA tournaments in nine years. Seven times, the Yellowjackets reached the NCAA Final Four and three times played in the national championship game.
The title of interim athletics director was added in 1996, with the interim tag being dropped a year later. Nelson held both titles until he resigned in 2000 to become the commissioner of the America West Hockey League. In 2004, Nelson returned to UWS as full-time director of athletics.
During his time as athletics director, Nelson has helped UWS grow its athletics department, including the addition of men’s soccer, women’s hockey and women’s golf as varsity sports. Men’s golf has also returned to varsity status and will begin competing this fall. In addition, several Yellowjacket sports have added junior varsity programs, further increasing the athletic opportunities UWS offers.
“I’m proud of the way our administration and staff have embraced what we are doing to give our students athletes a tremendous experience,” Nelson said. “I feel like I’m leaving here with our department in a good place, with a staff that is the best I’ve had in my time here. The group of people working in our department go to great lengths to make UWS a great place for students.”
Nelson compiled a collegiate coaching record of 249-168-21.
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“Steve’s contributions to UW-Superior are many and significant,” said UWS Chancellor Renee Wachter. “They have resulted in a truly outstanding coaching staff and experience for students. He has paved the way for future athletic success. Steve has changed the face of Yellowjacket athletics. We will truly miss him and will always be grateful for all he has done to transform our athletic department.
“We appreciate Nick’s willingness to step up and serve in this interim role to ensure Yellowjacket athletics continue down a path of success as we transition into a new conference.”
Bursik, a 2012 graduate of UWS, took over as head coach of the Yellowjacket baseball team in 2013 after serving one season as an assistant coach.
In addition to his coaching duties, Bursik has served as a marketing specialist on the UWS campus. He takes the reins of the athletics department as a new era dawns with the Yellowjackets moving to the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference.
“This is a tremendous opportunity and I’m grateful for the confidence shown in me by our administration,” Bursik said. “Steve has done an outstanding job in positioning our department to be successful for years to come. We are looking forward to the future in our new conference and to all of the positive changes happening within athletics and on our campus as a whole.”
Bursik will remain the interim director of athletics until a permanent replacement can be hired through a national search. The search is anticipated to commence in spring 2016.
