Fred K. Nielsen

Danish American diplomat and football coach (1879–1963)

Fred Kenelm Nielsen (April 22, 1879 – January 12, 1963) was a Danish American lawyer, diplomatic official, and college football coach. Nielsen served as the head football coach at the Maryland Agricultural College—now known as the University of Maryland, College Park—from 1905 to 1906, the George Washington University from 1907 to 1908, Georgetown University from 1910 to 1911, and the Catholic University of America from 1915 to 1916.

Nielsen was born in Slagelse, Denmark on April 22, 1879. He emigrated to Omaha, Nebraska with his parents the following year. Nielsen attended the University of Nebraska, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1902 and a LL. B. in 1904.

Nielsen started his career with the United States Department of State in 1904. During his two years at Maryland, the Aggies posted an 11–7 record. He continued coaching college football part time in the Washington area. From 1907 to 1908, Nielsen was the head coach at the George Washington University. Nielsen then coached at Georgetown University from 1910 to 1911. Georgetown's losses came at the hands of undefeated, untied, and unscored upon Pittsburgh and the Carlisle Indians led by Jim Thorpe. Georgetown secured the SAIAA championship both years of Nielsen's tenure. In 1913, Nielsen was named the Assistant Solicitor of the Department of State. In 1918, Nielsen served in the United States Army until Armistice and attained the rank of major. Nielsen resigned from that position in 1922, and later that year, President Harding nominated him as the American representative for the British American Claims Commission. Nielsen later served as the American commissioner of the Mexican Claims Commission, which existed from 1924 to 1937 to settle disputes between the two nations. In 1931, he resigned from that post "in disgust" at the actions of some of the Mexican and Panamanian delegates. Nielsen died on January 12, 1963.